GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Control Of Weed Called "Selfheal" In Lawn

Robert Hibell · 29-07-2008, 06:36 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In message , Sacha
writes
On 29/7/08 17:35, in article ,
"tbg" wrote:

Hi,

I have several occurrences of a weed known as "Selfheal" in my lawn.
It has not reached the point where it is becoming rampant but I have
pulled up approximately 20 of the spreading web like shoots that I
have so far located.

On reading a bit about it I think I need to take some positive action
now rather than later to control the weed.

Can anyone please recommend an efficient treatment that I can purchase
in the UK to get rid of the "Selfheal" that will not compromise my
lawn.

It's not a weed, it's a wild flower and is called Selfheal because it's used
to cure mouth ulcers and sore throats. It's a little ironic to think that
others might pay quite a lot of money for a wild flower garden containing
it! Perhaps you could allow at least a little patch to flourish?

I grow some in our wildflower areas as it is a good butterfly and bee
plant as well as having attractive blue flowers. In a lawn it can be a
bit of a problem as mowing, even relatively close mowing, does not
control it. Scalping the lawn or grazing with sheep will but I don't
suppose that you want to go down that route. The only organic
alternative is to dig the plants up before they spread to far. Failing
that you will need to try repeated applications of a selective weed
killer such as Verdone.

--
Robert Hibell