Creeping butter cup -how to get rid?

[Didntgetmydiamondring]

I’ve been trying to dig it out then fill in the holes but there is so much of it that, if I carry on, I will have more holes than grass!

Anyone any advice?
Is it, if the tiniest bit of root is left, going to come back anyway? There is still so much left to do and I need way more compost for the holes. I’m feeling defeated, ts spreading faster than I can dig it up.

Use a vegetable knife to cut under the big ones instead of digging them out. Have you tried any lawn weedkiller?

I got a weed killer that also kills the roots, where you dab the liquid on the individual leaves. I dabbed as many of the leaves as I could get to and it actually worked quite well.

I sometimes get new shoots sprout up but I just zap them with the dabber too and it seems to do the trick.

It was a lot easier than endless digging and only took a week or so to take effect.

I "dabbed" weed killer on mine and ended up with massive dead/yellow patches on the lawn which took 2 years to go away. Wish I'd used a knife.

I’m trying to avoid weed killer as I’m planting in the border to attract bees but, with the amount that’s spreading, I might have to to get rid of the big patches so I can keep on top of it. I will try with the kitchen knife and see how I get on. Thanks for the tip.

I tend to accept lawn weeds and then I get nice flowers in the lawn at different times of year. I find the weeds are harder wearing that the grass often. I realise this approach is not for everyone though...

I’m leaving most of the dandelions for the bees Beware but the creeping buttercups are taking over most of the grass. I would leave them if they were the other types of buttercup.

Mine has been much reduced by tracking the runners back to the main cluster, and rooting out that central hub, and then just pulling up the runners coming from it.
DH has also used a weed and feed, which seems to have slowed regrowth. Taken 18 months to see a difference tho.

18 months
Funny though, as I’m on my knees digging, I’m narrating my segment on gardeners world in my head about the back breaking hours and hours of hard work it took to create my magnificent garden due to the abundance of creeping buttercup I inherited

I have 6 acres and tbh the only effective solution is an agricultural spray called thrust. It's best to do it in Spring on a day when there is no wind to avoid drift, using a hand spray. Unfortunately digging it out is ineffective.

Ineffective? Well that saves me loads of work.
Off to google thrust, my lawn is tiny so I hope they do small sizes. Thanks.

My allotment was infested with creeping buttercup - I gave the plot back! I was digging down by 2 feet and still seeing runners. Hate the bloody stuff.

Yes Yaffle the runners go on forever. I hope more don’t sprout from any bits I’ve accidentally missed.
I won’t go with thrust. If livestock have to be kept off for several days it isn’t something I want to treat with when I have pets and visiting birds.

@Didntgetmydiamondring Thrust is only an issue for grazing animals and then only for 14 days.

I should add this is only because they eat the dead buttercup and ragwort both of which is toxic/poisonous to horses and some other grazing animals.

I wish we had an edit function on here.

Is your drainage bad? I think creeping buttercup is an indicator plant for poor drainage. Maybe aerating your soil or putting in a French drain might help.

That makes sense, It’s heavy clay. I will see what I can do to improve it.