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The garden of the house we bought last year has been sprouting and blooming and flowering and fruiting marvelously so far, and I'm being kept busy by my mum's mantra of "never walk past a weed". I have been leaving the thing pictured though, as they looked fairly nice and appear in semi-ordered clumps round and about. Today though, I've found some growing out of bits inbetween the patio, which makes me thunk they're a weed. I then started seeing them in the middle of clumps of other plants too. What are they, abd should I be merciless in my efforts to get rid?
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Secondary question: do the green-leaved things underneath look like strawberries?
Yes, that pink thing is a weed.
The bright green plant does indeed resemble a strawberry plant. If it is one it'll need more light.
Yep Pinky's a weed. Could be wild strawberries which have tiny but edible fruit. They'll spread themselves about a bit too.
The leaves do indeed look like wild strawberries, I'd leave them in the plants but get rid of them on the patio.
Pink thing is a species of willow herb lower one is Fragaria vesca, wild strawberry.
Cheers folks. Looks like I'll be busy tomorrow...
Wait until the creeping buttercup shows itself! Once you can notice them without having to look, you are in trouble.
I would leave the willowherb.. They will keep coming back, no matter how well you weed.
I like them around because the bees and hover flies seem to enjoy them.
ok, how do I get rid of the caterpillar infestation on my laurel bush??
No sprays seem to work ....
You don't! It is recommended to plant something else that they like and move them to that.
That way there will still be plenty of butterflies later in the year.
I look on them as temporary pets.. 😀
Get rid of everything that's not the shrub! 🙂
ok, how do I get rid of the caterpillar infestation on my laurel bush??
Sounds itchy man....
Seriously, so I have to live with the little buggers?
I believe they are ,ore likely to be moth that butterflies ...
And there won't be any more because I am picking them off and jumping on them ...
plant nasturtiums sacrificial caterpillar plans. And edible garnish.
http://www.mothscount.org/text/16/importance_of_moths.html
I'm just wondering what they could do to harm a laurel. They are pretty indestructible.
Try just collecting them in a jar and drop them somewhere nice when out on a ride, perhaps?
Also, Moths and butterflies are pretty much the same thing.
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With you on that on, JoshVegas. Much less work in the long run than elimination.
I'm coming across as a little heartless, I know ...
How the laurel is covered in the little buggers - 50 or so. Though most are now removed but there seems like a load of eggs ...
They are chewing through loads of leaves, and the stick the leave together with some sort of web/ silk, to keep themselves snug at night . So the plant looks like it has gone through a war.
So I not feeling very charitable towards them - one or two, and I will live wit them. The South Easts entire quota ... they have to die
It also seems to stunt the growth of the plant / affect it's health
You also appear to have some [i]Alchemilla vulgaris, Sennecio vulgars and Sonchus oleraceus[/i]
Oh and the willow herb thing is[i] Epilobium cilliatum[/i] I think
If they are becoming too much of a problem, I suppose a jetwash might do the trick 🙂
The darker green stuff at top of picture is a pita also - looks like lady's mantle. Self seeds and grows everywhere if you don't chop it. Apparently medicinal, according to wiki.