Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By DAN ORI
Dan has over 27 years’ under his belt caring for plants and gardens. Working as a Horticultural Instructor and Consultant, he draws on a diverse range of experience that includes working as a Head Gardener, Tree Surgeon, Garden Centre Trouble Shooter, and writer of academic papers. Dan has a Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture and is currently a candidate for the RHS’s most prestigious award – The Master of Horticulture.
Contributions From DANNY CLARKE
Danny Clarke ('The Black Gardener') is a British Horticulturist and Garden Designer. He is probably best known for his TV presenting roles on the BBC's Instant Gardener, his time on the ITV This Morning team and Filthy Garden SOS aired on Channel 5. He also co-directs CIC Grow 2 Know, a charitable organisation encouraging diversity in horticulture.
Debi Holland is a Writer for publications including BBC Countryfile and Garden News magazine and runs her own Garden Maintenance business. She was an Ambassador for the RHS campaign 'Inspiring the Future' and has a Diploma in Horticulture from Bristol Botanic Gardens. Debi is also a member of the Garden Media Guild.
IN THIS GUIDE
- What Are Weeds?
- Categories Of Weeds
- Annual Weeds
- Biennial Weeds
- Perennial Weeds
- Ephemeral Weeds
- Types Of Common Weeds Found In The UK
- 1) Nettles
- 2) Docks
- 3) Creeping Thistle
- 4) Creeping Buttercup
- 5) Japanese Knotweed
- 6) Couch Grass
- 7) Cleavers AKA ‘Sticky Willies’
- 8) Common Mouse-Ear
- 9) Green Alkanet
- 10) Wood Avens
- 11) Common Ragwort
- 12) Bindweed
- 13) Ground Elder
- 14) Alleluia
- 15) Celandine
- 16) Enchanter’s Nightshade
- 17) Storksbill
- 18) Yarrow
- 19) Cuckoo Flower
- 20) Rosebay Willowherb
- 21) Common Chickweed
- 22) Horsetail
- 23) Daisy
- 24) White Clover
- 25) Common Dandelion
- 26) Bird’s Foot Trefoil
- 27) Scarlet Pimpernel
- 28) Groundsel
- 29) Slender Speedwell
- 30) Red Clover
- Are Weeds Bad?
- Know Your Enemy
- References
No matter how the size or style of your garden, or whether you are a novice or seasoned gardener, there is one thing that unites us all: the battle against weeds.
While some weeds can be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, for the most part, they are a nuisance and seem hell-bent on choking out and destroying our prized and precious plants.
While there are some preventative measures you can take, as a gardener, it is wise to accept that weeds are an unavoidable part of gardening.
Dealing with weeds can be a frustrating, laborious and often daunting task and trying to tackle them can feel overwhelming, to say the least.
However, there are a number of things you can do to make this undesirable job more manageable, and the most important one is identification.
Successfully identifying weeds can help you understand exactly what you need to do to get rid of them.
In this article, we will introduce you to the most common weeds found in gardens in the UK because, in the world of weeds, knowledge is power.
What Are Weeds?
Simply put, a weed is a plant in an undesirable location.
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “a wild plant growing where it is not wanted, especially among crops or garden plants”.1weed. (n.d.). Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/weed_1
Interestingly, the term “weed” has no botanical significance.
Wild plants growing where they are wanted would not be defined as weeds.
On the other hand, wild plants growing in your garden where they are not wanted would be considered weeds.
Essentially a weed is determined by the context in which it is growing.
Categories Of Weeds
There are three main categories of weeds in regards to the characteristics in which they grow, and these are as follows:
Annual Weeds
Annual weeds have an average life span of one year and germinate and spread by seed.
There are both winter and summer types of annual weeds.
Winter annual weeds tend to germinate in late summer or early autumn, lie dormant in winter and grow actively in spring.
Summer annual weeds germinate in spring, grow through summer and die out in the winter months.
Biennial Weeds
Biennial weeds have an average life span of two years; they germinate and form rosettes in their first year and produce flowers, fruits and seeds in their second year before dying out.
Perennial Weeds
Perennial weeds are the beasts that return year after year.
They usually produce long taproots, as well as seeds, and are generally the hardest weeds to control.
Ephemeral Weeds
“There is one more category that sits between annual and perennial weeds – ephemeral,” shares Dan Ori, a Horticultural Instructor and Consultant.
“Ephemeral weed seeds lie dormant in the winter, through the year these weeds will normally spread through a rapid cycle of germinating, growing, flowering, setting seed and dying.
“The rapid nature of their development makes regular weeding essential for their control.
“A few common names of ephemeral weeds you may have heard of are Groundsel, Chickweed, Shepherd’s purse and Wavy bittercress.”
Types Of Common Weeds Found In The UK
Now that you have a nice clear understanding of what weeds are and what they are capable of, the next step is to learn how to identify them.
We have put together a comprehensive list of all the weeds you are most likely to encounter in your garden as well as some tips and tricks on how to expel them.
So let’s get started!
1) Nettles
- BOTANICAL NAME: Urtica dioica
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL / ANNUAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
Topping our list of weeds are nasty nettles.
There are both perennial and annual types of nettles which both grow in clumps, reaching up to 1.2m in height.
Perhaps one of the most easily recognisable weeds, they can quickly engulf borders and can also give unprotected skin a jolly nasty sting.
Perennial nettles have creeping roots and are particularly troublesome in loose, newly cultivated soil, where they can quickly steal much-needed water and nutrients from other plants.
The annual types of nettles do not have long-lasting roots; however, they do produce a prolific amount of seeds from a young age and can wreak absolute havoc in vegetable gardens.
The good news is that nettles can be controlled by weedkillers which should be applied when the plant is in vigorous growth.
You can also dig the entire plant out of the ground – be sure to wear gloves – and young seedlings can be removed by hoeing.
It is worth mentioning, however, that nettles are a vital food source for British butterflies, so if you have a patch of them that isn’t interfering with your garden, you may wish to leave them be.
2) Docks
- BOTANICAL NAME: Rumex crispus
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
Before we go into the reasons why docks are such an annoyance for gardeners, we should first point out that, if you have been stung by our previous weed, it’s claimed that dock leaves neutralise the effects – so credit where credit’s due, they aren’t all bad.2Cottam, L. (2019, May 15). Why do nettles sting? Do dock leaves help? Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/05/why-do-nettles-sting/
That said, once established, they are more of a pain than a stinging nettle sting!
Easily identified by their broad leaves and distinctive seedheads, docks are one of the most common weeds found in the UK and are bloomin’ hard to eradicate.
Docks have a thick, branched taproot which can grow up to 90cm in length and can regrow if damaged.
They also produce seeds in abundance which germinate easily and can also remain and survive in the soil for 50 years.3Docks. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/docks
The trick with docks is to try digging isolated specimens out.
Only the first 12-15cm of rootstock has the power to regenerate so if you remove that successfully there should be no regrowth.
Docks are most vulnerable in spring, so that’s the time to tackle them.
Dock seedlings should be sprayed with weedkiller, killing them off before they have a chance to establish themselves.
3) Creeping Thistle
- BOTANICAL NAME: Cirsium arvense
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
When it comes to creeping thistle, you are going to want to get on top of the problem fast as, once established, this plant can be extremely difficult to eradicate completely.
Creeping thistle spreads using lateral roots; these roots are brittle and easily reshoot when broken, making this plant a really tricky customer.
Uncontrolled thistle will compete with your plants for light, water and nutrients.
The spreading roots of creeping thistle mean that the plant grows in large clumps, producing spiny leaves and flowering stems which can grow up to 1m in height.
The dark, purple flowers, typical of the thistle family, bloom from July to September.
The best time to combat thistles with weedkiller is when they are growing vigorously but haven’t begun to flower.
Digging up thistles can cause problems as they can easily regenerate when roots are broken.
With a widespread, overgrown thistle problem, digging the plants out could take many seasons.
You will need to weaken the plant by cutting the top growth over a number of years, which should be done before the flower heads show colour.
4) Creeping Buttercup
- BOTANICAL NAME: Ranunculus repens
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
Whilst the creeping buttercup does produce rather charming, yellow flowers, beloved by children trying to discern who likes butter, the plant itself is a rather irritating issue for gardeners.
This perennial weed is most commonly found in lawns and borders, or other areas with bare soil. And, where there is moisture, it will grow strong and set deep roots.
Creeping buttercup uses deeply penetrating roots to spread – they branch out from every leaf node to form a surprisingly sturdy underground network.
To combat creeping buttercups in lawns, you can use a rake in springtime to lift the roots, then use a lawnmower to cut them.
Aerating your lawn in autumn will improve the drainage, and reduce creep.
A good old-fashioned trowel will help you dig out fledgeling roots before they have a chance to take hold, too.
5) Japanese Knotweed
- BOTANICAL NAME: Fallopia japonica
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
Few weeds strike as much terror in the hearts of gardeners than Japanese knotweed.
This rapidly spreading plant dies back to ground level in winter but, by early summer, its bamboo-like stems shoot from the ground, reaching heights of up to 2 metres.
Japanese knotweed can be identified by its reddish-purple, fleshy shoots and crimson-pink buds which produce white flowers in late summer and early autumn.
This nasty weed can be devastating not only for your garden but also for the prospects of your house if you are hoping to sell it.
While it is not illegal to have Japanese knotweed growing in your garden, you are required to control it.4How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading. (2023, February 17). GOV.UK. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading
Controlling this weed is no walk in the park.
Even if digging out this deeply penetrating plant is possible, it has to be disposed of as controlled waste at a licensed site.5Council, M. C. (n.d.). Japanese Knotweed. Manchester City Council. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/709/looking_after_parks_and_open_spaces/5753/weeds/2
For this reason, if you are experiencing issues with this formidable weed, we highly recommend seeking a specialist to assist you in its removal and disposal.
See our interactive map to discover where Japanese Knotweed has been recorded in your area.
6) Couch Grass
- BOTANICAL NAME: Elymus repens
- PLANT TYPE: GRASS
- UK NATIVE: NO
Couch grass, or twitch grass, is a well-known enemy among gardeners.
This trouble maker forms wiry, underground stems, with creeping shoots that pop out of the ground and take control of garden beds.
This perennial weed is tricksy and looks like a normal tuft of grass, but underneath it will be forming dense networks of roots, spreading rapidly and choking the growth of nearby, wanted plants.
For small, isolated infestations, hand weeding can go a long way for couch grass and is best done in the springtime, before it re-establishes itself around bulbs.
Where lawns are concerned, unfortunately, there isn’t a weedkiller that will leave the lawn unharmed.
If couch grass has invaded your lawns, you may be better off killing off both the weed and the lawn: dig over the soil and prepare the area for re-sowing or re-turfing.
7) Cleavers AKA ‘Sticky Willies’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Galium aparine
- PLANT TYPE: ANNUAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
Whilst there is much fun to be had with this weed, which you can stick to unsuspecting peoples’ clothing, cleavers are no fun for gardeners.
Cleavers can be easily identified by their sprawling stems which can grow to a metre in length.
Their leaves are slender, and the plant produces little green-white flowers in clusters from May to August which develop into green or purple fruits.
The problem with this plant is the seeds which are produced in mass quantities of up to 400 per plant.
The seeds are easily distributed and can also stay in the soil for up to six years.
Whilst individual weeds are relatively easy to uproot and remove, if allowed to establish, this plant can be a persistent pest.
This is a weed you want to hand pull out as soon as it rears its ugly head.
You can also avoid introducing cleavers to your garden by giving your clothes, or your pet’s fur, a good brush down after walks.
8) Common Mouse-Ear
- BOTANICAL NAME: Cerastium alpinum
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
9) Green Alkanet
- BOTANICAL NAME: Pentaglottis sempervirens
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
10) Wood Avens
- BOTANICAL NAME: Geum urbanum
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
11) Common Ragwort
- BOTANICAL NAME: Senecio jacobaea
- PLANT TYPE: BIENNIAL / SHORT-LIVED PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
12) Bindweed
- BOTANICAL NAME: Calystegia sepium
- PLANT TYPE: CLIMBER
- UK NATIVE: NO
13) Ground Elder
- BOTANICAL NAME: Aegopodium podagraria
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
14) Alleluia
- BOTANICAL NAME: Oxalis acetosella
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
15) Celandine
- BOTANICAL NAME: Ficaria verna
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
16) Enchanter’s Nightshade
- BOTANICAL NAME: Circaea lutetiana
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
17) Storksbill
- BOTANICAL NAME: Erodium cicutarium
- PLANT TYPE: ANNUAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
18) Yarrow
- BOTANICAL NAME: Achillea millefolium
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
19) Cuckoo Flower
- BOTANICAL NAME: Cardamine pratense
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
20) Rosebay Willowherb
- BOTANICAL NAME: Chamaenerion angustifolium
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
21) Common Chickweed
- BOTANICAL NAME: Stellaria media
- PLANT TYPE: ANNUAL (Ephemeral)
- UK NATIVE: YES
22) Horsetail
- BOTANICAL NAME: Equisetum arvense
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
23) Daisy
- BOTANICAL NAME: Bellis perennis
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
24) White Clover
- BOTANICAL NAME: Trifolium repens
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
25) Common Dandelion
- BOTANICAL NAME: Taraxacum officinale
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
26) Bird’s Foot Trefoil
- BOTANICAL NAME: Lotus corniculatus
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
27) Scarlet Pimpernel
- BOTANICAL NAME: Anagallis arvensis
- PLANT TYPE: ANNUAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
28) Groundsel
- BOTANICAL NAME: Senecio vulgaris
- PLANT TYPE: ANNUAL (Ephemeral)
- UK NATIVE: NO
29) Slender Speedwell
- BOTANICAL NAME: Veronica filiformis
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: NO
30) Red Clover
- BOTANICAL NAME: Trifolium pratense
- PLANT TYPE: PERENNIAL
- UK NATIVE: YES
Are Weeds Bad?
It is also worth noting that not all weeds are “bad”, as Danny Clarke, reputable Garden Designer and TV Personality, shares:
“I think we should learn to love our weeds a little bit more.
“We should not be too tidy in our gardens and should instead allow the garden to do its own things to an extent. I believe in challenging what a beautiful garden is.
“For me, it’s not about a lawn in the middle with narrow borders around the edge with all the shrubs and plants lined up like soldiers on duty.
“I’m about bringing in as many plants into the space as possible and letting them do their own thing.”
Many plants widely regarded as weeds are also grown intentionally because of the benefits they provide.
Beneficial weeds are invasive, usually non-domesticated plants, that can provide protection or other benefits to plants, contribute to soil health or have ornamental value.
“Leave patches of grass unmown and don’t pull up weeds too quickly, as most plants typecast as weeds are incredibly beneficial to wildlife and are actually beautiful flowering plants,” says Garden Writer Debi Holland.
For the most part, however, weeds are an absolute pain in the backside for us gardeners and need to be controlled and/or completely eradicated from our gardens.
Uncontrolled weeds can interfere with our gardens, and our lives, in a variety of ways including:
- Competing with wanted plants’ resources such as sunlight, nutrients in the soil, water and space for growth.
- Providing a host for plant pathogens, infecting and degrading the quality of our wanted plants.
- Providing food or shelter for pests such as seed-eating birds and fruit flies, which would otherwise struggle to survive seasonal changes.
- Damaging the integrity of buildings and garden structures.
Know Your Enemy
At the end of the day, there will always be weeds and they will always be a big part of gardening.
Prevention is the best method but, more importantly, identifying the weed and understanding its growth habits are the best way to stop it in its tracks.
We hope this article has given you the know-how to deal with some of the most common UK garden weeds.
The best thing we can recommend when it comes to weeds is to do your research, put your back into and take your garden back!
References
- 1weed. (n.d.). Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/weed_1
- 2Cottam, L. (2019, May 15). Why do nettles sting? Do dock leaves help? Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/05/why-do-nettles-sting/
- 3Docks. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/docks
- 4How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading. (2023, February 17). GOV.UK. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading
- 5Council, M. C. (n.d.). Japanese Knotweed. Manchester City Council. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/709/looking_after_parks_and_open_spaces/5753/weeds/2