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Gardening

Lawn weed

(14 Posts)
ClicketyClick Mon 11-Aug-25 16:42:39

I have this spreading rapidly in the lawn. After googling, I think it's called dichondra. Any suggestions on how to get rid of it without killing what's left of the grass and, ideally, won't affect the wildlife eg bees, ladybirds.

Retroladywriting Mon 11-Aug-25 16:45:34

If you really can't accept it, the only way to get rid without damaging the grass is to did it out.
Depends how much it bothers you though.

Retroladywriting Mon 11-Aug-25 16:46:08

Sorry - diG it out!

David49 Mon 11-Aug-25 17:15:20

This weed looks deep rooted, your lawn is probably brown and dry so the deep rooted weeds can spread more easily.

Spread lawn weed killer -weed and feed from your garden centre it does need moisture to work so either water the lawn or wait until it rains.

ClicketyClick Mon 11-Aug-25 17:43:38

Yes, not long moved here and the lawn is really neglected with lots of dead patches and from the lack of rain. I've tried digging each piece out with a trowel and finding it seems to have long runners so I'm onto a losing battle. I will do as you suggest David49 and also reseed the dead patches in autumn.

Casdon Mon 11-Aug-25 17:57:28

David49

This weed looks deep rooted, your lawn is probably brown and dry so the deep rooted weeds can spread more easily.

Spread lawn weed killer -weed and feed from your garden centre it does need moisture to work so either water the lawn or wait until it rains.

I wouldn’t do it until we’ve had a good bit of rain, as the ground is very dry, even when it rains at the moment, the rain only penetrates half an inch deep.

AmberGran Mon 11-Aug-25 18:24:51

I used to weed and feed every Autumn after having the lawn returfed just to give it a bit of a boost. Even in dry weather it used to be pretty green most of the time. I stopped that and now my lawn has almost disappeared, between the dry weather and weeds. It gets worse every year. I'm going to do it again this year to get rid of weeds but then I am going to seed it with clover, which doesn't mind the lack of rain and stays green.

As mentioned above, do it when rain is expected - the weedkiller will burn the grass if it remains on the stalks. I once turned my back lawn black after putting it down and it didn't rain. I'd forgotten about it so didn't water it in either. Since then I've been known to sprinkle it around when it starts raining grin

grandMattie Mon 11-Aug-25 18:32:09

It looks like violets. I’m sure I’m quite wrong🤨

valdavi Mon 11-Aug-25 18:47:53

I thought violets too grandMattie. The dog-violets I dig out don't have many runners though, so maybe not.

David49 Mon 11-Aug-25 20:13:43

Or you could plant the whole lawn dichondra

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ClicketyClick Mon 11-Aug-25 22:29:40

No thanks lol. It's even in the flower borders. I will wait until after a few downpours before weed n feed but I may be waiting a while. I initially thought it was violets as well but it doesn't flower. I'm wondering if when the lawn has been mowed that that has helped to spread it around.

Allira Mon 11-Aug-25 22:39:22

grandMattie

It looks like violets. I’m sure I’m quite wrong🤨

Common dog violet, I thought too.

We have some in our lawn along with lots of other weeds wild flowers and some oregano!

AndrewStones78 Wed 14-Jan-26 21:41:57

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lixy Wed 14-Jan-26 22:25:23

It looks like the dog violet we have in our flower beds. It does have violet flowers in the late Spring. I dig it up wholesale but there are always a few plants I miss. It spreads like billy-o. Here it seems to prefer shady places.