Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
sephora13

Please help identify this weed that is taking over my garden

Sephora13
10 years ago

Hello!

After spending some time looking around I can't seem to figure out what this weed is. It has completely invaded my strawberry bed, entered my raspberries and is making its way across the lawn into my roses. I have spent hours pulling its vast root system out (I have a whole trash bag full at this point and there is tons more....every time I stick my spade in I find a whole different labyrinth of roots) and I have a horrible feeling that it will just keep growing.

Any help on identification and a preferably organic way (if not I don't even care at this point....it has to go) would be very appreciated! Thanks!!!

Comments (8)

  • jean001a
    10 years ago

    Most likely Canada thistle. It extends its colonyby sending underground stems outward in all directions.

    Continue digging, then repeat as needed. You can eventually win as long as you remove all greenery you see during weekly patrols.

  • Dzitmoidonc
    10 years ago

    Not thistle. Those leaves are not as flat, and spines are fewer and larger. Look at weeds in the Prickly lettuce family. If you break a leaf, is the sap white?

  • Sephora13
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks Jean001A and Dzitmoidonc!

    I have a bunch of thistle and this definitely behaves and looks a little different. I'll load a few other pics of it and look up the Prickly Lettuce Family.

    Yes, it does have white sap. Not much but what I could see definitely looked white.

  • Sephora13
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Here is a cluster of them (from my experience thus far I would guess that each of these plants is on a totally different root system then the one next to it. Sooooo much highway of intersecting root below the surface.

    The roots are kind of woody looking but very fragile and run horizontally just below the surface of the soil. In some areas I have had to dig down a little but they, for the most part, are pretty shallow.

  • Sephora13
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    I just brushed the dirt away from the roots and this is what it looks like still "attached" and in the ground.

  • Sephora13
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Last pic....the leaves are very soft with just slightly jagged edges. They grow very upright and stay pretty flexible and smooth.

    I do not think this flowers. I have been fighting it for at least a year (it probably got established 3 years ago before I realized what was happening) and in that time don't ever remember seeing it flower in any noticeable way.

  • Sephora13
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Can I just say Thank you!!!!!

    This conversation had me on a google search that lead to this:
    http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=1050

    It looks like this is PERENNIAL SOWTHISTLE
    Other Names: corn sow thistle, creeping sow thistle, dindle, field milk thistle, field sow thistle, gutweed, hare's colewort, hare's lettuce, hare's palace, milk thistle, swine thistle, swinies, tree sow thistle.

    I probably never noticed it flower thinking it was a neighboring dandelion.

    If anyone else runs it this nightmare hopefully they can catch it quicker than I did.

    Thanks again!!!! These 2 suggestions on what it was gave me the right search string. Now off to find a way to destroy it! :)

  • jean001a
    10 years ago

    Good job w/ the search Yes, sometimes the search phrase needs a little nudge from someone else's brain cells.

    And thanks for reporting back.