Invasive Weed

[Mr-H]

Help please. I have been attacked by a small leafed weed which looks and smells like Mustard Cress. Patio Weed killer seems to have little effect, and this weed seems to be extending across my garden (which is mainly of flint chippings). It also is spreading into the flower beds. Any ideas how to halt or hopefully eradicate it please? I am happy to use anything, even those weedkillers which will stop all plant growth for many months. I have no pets, and young children only visit on a weekly (at most) basis.

[woofgang]

little white flowers? google hairy bittercress, which i bet it is. Happily it has fairly shallow roots and the remedy is to pull it out before it seeds. I have also had some success with a weed wand on paving, but again you need to do it again and again and catch it before it seeds
https://www.parasene.com/vshop/details.asp?prodID=402

[Chipchopper]

I agree, it sounds like hairy or wavy bitter cress.
I find it more of a problem when it grows in the compost of potted plants.
Pulling it or hoeing, before the flowers turn to seed is how I tackle it.
It's my theory that it comes in with plants bought in from a garden centre, so it's always a good idea to check for it when you purchase plants

[ferlew]

Helpful site
http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/novice/weed-identification/summer-flowering-weeds

[Mr-H]

I have taken out most of what I can see, but I think that a (very!!) liberal covering of Weedol Pathclear every couple of weeks for the first couple of months, then (say) every six weeks in the growing season(?) might keep them down. This site http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/problems/weeds/hairy-bitter-cress/471.html says it's rampant, comes from a multitude of places and can be difficult to get rid of. Wish me luck as I go into the fray (lol).

[woofgang]

been there done that, it didn't work. sorry, you probably don't want to hear that.

[murraymints]

You just have to keep pulling it out as it appears !

[Mr-H]

Problem is ..... we tend to go away for a few weeks at a time in the caravan. Couldn't expect my son to weed-pull! Weedol it will have to be.