GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Whats the best way of getting rid of Yarrow from lawn ??

Rupert \(W.Yorkshire\) · 06-10-2006, 10:10 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

"echinosum" wrote in message
...

Wrote:
Whats the best way of getting rid of Yarrow from lawn ??

I've tried a few chemicals but none seem to touch it.
In 2003 I made the (with hindsight) error of applying
fertiliser/weedkiller/mosskiller combo to my lawns in the spring. This
was especially a mistake on my front lawn which at the time had
relatively little grass among the weeds. Being 2003 the grass did not
grow for several months, and what moved into the spaces left by the
dead moss and weeds was yarrow, which had been largely unaffected by
the weedkiller.

Now I don't mind having a bit of yarrow mixed in with a balanced mix of
grass, clover, daisies, and other small wild flowers. But a lawn mottled
with a few large yarrow patches is not so nice. Although it was a big
job, I just pulled it out, taking especial care to remove as much
rhizome as possible. I find pulling yarrow out much easier to do in
summer when the soil is dry than in winter when it is sticky, though
that depends on your soil type I suppose, and the degree of lawn
thatch. Also the rhizomes are more stringy in the summer, and so long
stretches come out more easily. The rhizomes are mostly on the surface
and with some care come out rather easily. And when it resprouted from
the bits of rhizome left over, I pulled that out. It hasn't completely
got rid of it, but it is no longer locally dominant, and there are some
areas which are now completely free of it. But most important the grass
has had chance to recover, and I now have a more balanced mix of plants
in the lawn.

Now if any bits of lawn look like the yarrow is becoming dominant, I
just pull out any bits that look especially healthy, and associated
rhizome. I keep the couch grass under control in much the same way.

I found an autumn lawn feed especially helpful for giving the desirable
grasses a boost. Spring feeding now seems to be a mistake, since most
years recently my lawn has stops growing in mid-summer.

--
echinosum
That's a me too -or was when I had a lawn at a previous house.
It seems to thrive on very dry and acidic soil. Hand weeding followed by
Verdone solved the problem. Small amounts of the stuff interspersed with the
grass and other weeds were acceptable.
Reducing the acidity of the soil by using lime stopped future invasions of
achillea and some other weeds.
If you are that dedicated to removing it entirely then you will need to test
the exact pH of the lawn and work out very carefully how much lime you need.
I can do that for you at a vast price:-)