Can anyone identify this weed and tell me how to kill it!

[SheilaWilde]

My garden is literally covered in this weed. Every year I (mostly) get rid of them and then by spring (because I'm neglectful and rubbish at gardening) they come back x 4! The roots are massive. Other than covering my garden in cardboard is there anything I can do?

Err... think you may need to post a pic.

A picture would help!

Photo?

Speedwell. Gorgeous.

I think it's borage. I'd spray it with a systemic weedkiller, though I know that's not fashionabll these days. That would kill the roots too.

Green alkanet. You have to dig it right out and roots left will grow. Just keep digging them up and hoe out any seedlings

The roots are big and woody but easy to pull. Dig out with a fork. They are pretty and not nearly as hard to get of as blinking dandelions.

It’s green alkanet as said above.

@Stillamum3

I think it's borage. I'd spray it with a systemic weedkiller, though I know that's not fashionabll these days. That would kill the roots too.

It will also kill stuff around it including grass. I did try to do this once with dandelions. Only sister a bit in the middle of the dandelion but everything surrounding died. 😔

Or nuke it as the previous poster suggests

Oh, I know this well. It is green alkanet, I believe. Is it irritating to the skin? We have it, at one time our garden was covered in it. We dug it all up (the root is long and thin, you must dig it, not pull it), which takes forever, and absolutely not let it flower. We do this meticulously every year in March and April, and we still have it coming up. It is everywhere round here (Bromley).

Wear gloves as the leaves can irritate the skin. I just pull the bastards up every year. My neighbours don’t bother so I just accept they will keep coming

I've just taken a better photo. The bees love it so I feel a bit bad but I'm happy to keep a patch for them - they're quite pretty but they're everywhere!

I can't seem to add another photo? I've Google Green Alkanet and yes! It's that. Digging it all up would take all summer 😬. Would I be able to strum it and cover the worse bits in something? Like the no dig vegetable patch method? I'd rather not use weed killer because of the wildlife. I'd burn it all if I could but I think my neighbours and might not thank me. Could I borrow a goat? 🐐

@Menopants

Wear gloves as the leaves can irritate the skin. I just pull the bastards up every year. My neighbours don’t bother so I just accept they will keep coming

Yes, they're very irritable! I've got itchy arms from trying to pull some up yesterday.

yes. alkanet.
bees love it.

if you are into organic veg gardening you can make your own fertiliser out of it's leaves & a bucket of water (absolutely stinks)

@WellTidy

Oh, I know this well. It is green alkanet, I believe. Is it irritating to the skin? We have it, at one time our garden was covered in it. We dug it all up (the root is long and thin, you must dig it, not pull it), which takes forever, and absolutely not let it flower. We do this meticulously every year in March and April, and we still have it coming up. It is everywhere round here (Bromley).

That's probably where I've been going wrong! I've been pulling it rather than digging. Not Bromley but I did live in Catford. I wonder if I brought it with me. I'm in Kent.

@purplesequins

yes. alkanet. bees love it.

if you are into organic veg gardening you can make your own fertiliser out of it's leaves & a bucket of water (absolutely stinks)

The bees do love it. It also makes it difficult to get rid of in daylight hours because there're bees everywhere and I feel guilty. But it's taken over the whole, not very big garden, including the grass (or, what was grass).

Strangely, I never used to see it when I lived in Beckenham. Or I suppose I maybe just didn’t notice it, but we definitely didn’t have it in our garden there. It is everywhere round here! I have a special weeding tool which gets it up easily here

@MerryMarigold

The roots are big and woody but easy to pull. Dig out with a fork. They are pretty and not nearly as hard to get of as blinking dandelions.

I'm lucky enough to have millions of dandelions and nettles too. Plus bindweed and something that's like a bramble but I don't think it is. Maybe I'll just let the whole garden go wild and concentrate on drinking wine.

@WellTidy

Strangely, I never used to see it when I lived in Beckenham. Or I suppose I maybe just didn’t notice it, but we definitely didn’t have it in our garden there. It is everywhere round here! I have a special weeding tool which gets it up easily here

That's strange, given how bloody easily it seems to grow. Ooh, I like that weeding tool, thank you. Is it quite strong? The plants are about 2ft tall and the roots seem massive.

Lovely, useful plant, although understandable if you wanted to clear some away. I would really like some in my garden, I have plenty of speedwell and comfrey that are equally useful, providing ground cover and adding to soil health.

it's quite satisfying pulling the roots out

I used to loosen the soil at it's base with a fork or spade and then pull.

I think they are pretty but can take over if left.

I have decided to like my dandelions. Do children still believe that if you pick them you will wet the bed? The French call them Piss-en-lit.

The tool is super strong. It was recommended on gardeners world magazine last year and I knew straightaway that it would be perfect.