Speedwell
Germander speedwell or Slender speedwell, two hard weeds to manage
Speedwell
Is this the hardest weed to control?
SPEEDWELL OVERVIEW
Speedwell is a perennial weed and is very difficult for both the amateur and professional to control. It is becoming more of a problem on lawns in throughout the UK.
What is Speedwell?
Speedwell is a perennial weed and is very difficult for both the amateur and professional to control. It is becoming more of a problem on lawns in throughout the UK. They spread by both underground and over ground runners. Two varieties of Speedwell exist: Slender Speedwell (Veronica filliformis) and Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
Greener Gardens have consulted with the Institute of Groundsmanship looking at the latest turf care practices. We discussed the control Speedwell. They endorsed that our current control methods were right, but added improved control may be achieved by good cultural practice between treatments and suggested the following site as a good source of reference: Lawnweeds
Over recent years effective control products have been withdrawn from use, even with professional applications, total control is proving very difficult. Slender Speedwell is less of a problem than Germander Speedwell.
Speedwell can survive in all soil types, particularly moist, nutrient rich soils and can tolerate low mowing.
Control
Hand weeding may be possible if there are a few plants in the lawn. It is important to remove clippings whilst mowing the lawn, failure to do so helps this weed to spread. Raking and light scarification may prove beneficial in reducing numbers; remove any debris to prevent Slender Speedwell from spreading.
What can you do to help control Speedwell in your lawn?
The control products we use will be more beneficial on younger plant leaf than older tougher leaves. Raking and removing the leaf debris will both check the growth and establishment of the plant and encourage new leaf growth which can be beneficial with the weed control.
What type of Speedwell do I have?
As we mentioned earlier speedwell is a difficult weed to control. We use the latest modern selective weed killer, however more than one application will be needed. In the case of Slender Speedwell, professional herbicides will be more effective than those available for amateur gardeners.
What we do to help control Speedwell in your lawn?
When we complete your Early summer treatment, we treat with a weed control that will eliminate many weeds. This is then followed up by a further weed control treatment during the summer visit with a specialist weed control which offers control of speedwell. Experience shows this checks and helps reduce the plant spread.
An additional weed control treatment can help results when completed in conjunction with raking between our visits but has still yet to give 100% elimination.
The RHS state that Speedwells are resistant to the majority of lawn weedkillers available to amateur gardeners. However, products containing the active ingredient fluroxypyr as one of their ingredients (Weedol Lawn Weedkiller, Roundup Lawn Weedkiller or Weedol Gun Lawn Weedkiller Ready to Use) will provide some control in lawns.
As mentioned earlier, speedwell is a difficult weed to control. In the case of Speedwell, our professional herbicide will be more effective than those available for amateur gardeners, it has registration approval for the control of Slender Speedwell, but not Germander Speedwell.
The weed control works on Slender Speedwell by stopping the production of Chlorophyll turning the leaf white, but results can be variable.
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