Frank "frank wrote:
On 6/19/2017 3:27 PM, John McGaw wrote:
On 5/28/2017 8:03 PM, Frank wrote:
Weed invading banks in back of house. This one crowding out vinca
minor. About yard long, budding, stickers around leaves. Pulls easily
with long thin root. Put through Google images and it says wood and
picture of bank comes back as grass.

https://i.imgur.com/bb03NHG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Jfi4J7l.jpg

I just noticed that some of this horrible stuff has sprouted in a couple
of oversized pots/planters that I have planted with gloriosa lilies. How
the seeds got there I don't know. Wind?

I'm letting it go this year as growth appears over but it is messy.

I think Leon Fisk hit the nail on the thumb; it's catchweed bedstraw. It
rolls up in a wad on a rake, and, if you can pick it up before the seeds
ripen, next year will much nicer 8-)

The roots are surprisingly small and easily lifted if they're in loose
material.. Leaf litter mulch helps a great deal.

hth,

bob prohaska

Next year maybe mid March I intend to spray the banks with pre-emergent
and take care of it and Japanese stilt grass in the banks. I've managed
to keep it out of the front lawn with pre-emergent. Not sure about the
weed but works for the stilt grass. You pull these weeds and prolific
seeds get into the fresh soil and sprout any time. I don't want to use
pre-emergent year round and even if I did, at the bottom of the banks
where I have lawn neighbors do nothing but cut or let grow wild.