Curled leaf Dockweed

[oldgit72]

I have rather a lot of these and after the recent rain they seem to have shot up and are taking over my garden and lawned areas (about 3000 sqm). I can dig them up with a spade or fork but this sometimes leaves much of the tap root (which can be 20-30cm long) in the ground and they just grow back again. If I take the mower over them, this just encourages growth also. Has anyone found a better method of getting rid of these weeds? I have seen various types of weed removal tools on the internet which are similar in design to post hole diggers - has anyone used these and do they work better than spades and forks?

[andyh4]

sharp knife - cut just below soil surface.

Sprinkle/pile salt on open wound on root - repeat as necessary.  May take 4 or 5 attempts before you see off a well established plant, but it will die, I assure you.

 

Don't get lots of salt on the grass or it will kill that too.

[oldgit72]

Thanks I'll give it a go on a few to get an idea of how much to use.

[andyh4]

Enough to form a small heap on the cut root, but not enough to spread out onto the ground around in any great amount

[JohnRoss]

Could try painting neat Glyphos (glyphosphate weedkiller) onto the leaves, like Roundup only cheaper, with a small paint brush. Visible results after a week and kills anything green down to root level so don't splash surrounding grass as will kill that too.................................JR