Weeds growing out of the pavment everywhere

[T & P]

Perhaps I have only just noticed, but I have never seen so many weeds growing on the pavement and kerb edges as now. They are everywhere on Tulse Hill, and I've seen plenty around Brixton as well.

I've started to look for them in elsewhere, but the issue seems far more prominent in Lambeth than in other areas of London I've been in recently.

Have anyone else noticed these pesky invaders?

 

[two sheds]

nature fighting back

they've just (2 months ago) done that cheap tarmac-then-small stones to cover the road outside my place. I wasn't keen at all but I see little bits of grass growing in the middle of the road now so I've changed my mind

 

[bimble]

Weeds is just free flowers. I like them. Especially the forget-me-nots in the paving stones outside my flat.

 

[two sheds]

there's loads of mexican fleabane (thank you andysays & urban) in walls and paths round here which is gorgeous



if you get things like buddleia take hold they can't half make the pavement bumpy though.

 

[Rushy]

there's loads of mexican fleabane (thank you urban) in walls and paths round here which is gorgeous

View attachment 92151

if you get things like buddleia take hold they can't half make the pavement bumpy though.

There's buddleja growing out of St Matthews steeple. I saw a huge one in the building wall with roots going down two stories in Clifton Mansions.

They are amazing. Will grow anywhere (with unfortunate consequences for buildings).

 

[danny la rouge]

Did you see the meteor shower last night?


When a day you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere.

 

[Lizzy Mac]

Most council's come and spray them with nasty chemicals on a regular basis.
Whereas the weeds were suffering from drought a few weeks ago, the few drops of rain that we had, coupled with the heat means they are springing up again.
I've seen road sweepers in Nunhead hoeing them off, a much nicer option all round. Wouldn't take much longer.

 

[brixtonblade]

It's all the fucking dog shit on the pavements fertilizing them

 

[Rushy]

Most council's come and spray them with nasty chemicals on a regular basis.
Whereas the weeds were suffering from drought a few weeks ago, the few drops of rain that we had, coupled with the heat means they are springing up again.
I've seen road sweepers in Nunhead hoeing them off, a much nicer option all round. Wouldn't take much longer.

Except that it doesn't kill them so they are back within days. I think something like glyphosate is ok for that very localised, close application by hand sprayer. It kills the roots but biodegrades on contact with the ground. The roots are what cause the damage. It's not good in agriculture though as it is hard to contain and kills everything over large areas, except a small number of resistant plants, so wrecks biodiversity. There is also some evidence that it may be a carcinogen with high exposure so protection should be worn. Although obviously, if you don't like chemicals full stop, it's a no no whatever. I use it but very sparingly, sometimes even just leaf by leaf.

 

[two sheds]

I use it on japanese knotweed only, cut off the stem tie a bit of the nasty stuff soaked into a bit of tissue and tie on with a bit of plastic over the top. Seems to kill the fuckers, not much else does I believe.

 

[Lizzy Mac]

Glyphosate is never OK and useless on annual weeds. I am very unhappy to chance upon a Council worker merrily spraying it. I always ask them to stop and they are happy to do so. They are supposed to put up signs giving notice for spraying but they never seems to for pavements and roads.
I wouldn't want a child or a pet to eat a sprayed weed or blade of grass.

 

[two sheds]

unless or useless?

 

[Lizzy Mac]

I use it on japanese knotweed only, cut off the stem tie a bit of the nasty stuff soaked into a bit of tissue and tie on with a bit of plastic over the top. Seems to kill the fuckers, not much else does I believe.

Are you sure that it kills it? Maybe it just encourages the roots to spread.

 

[Lizzy Mac]

unless or useless?

Bah : )

 

[two sheds]

Are you sure that it kills it? Maybe it just encourages the roots to spread.

Cutting indeed gets the roots to spread if you don't treat it but in the places where I've found it (only a couple of shoots) and treated it, it's not come back.

 

[Lizzy Mac]

Cutting indeed gets the roots to spread if you don't treat it but in the places where I've found it (only a couple of shoots) and treated it, it's not come back.

Good for you, I've not seen any success stories without getting specialists in.

 

[two sheds]

It's all over the fucking place round here

 

[Lizzy Mac]

Do you live near a railway? The Victorians used it to keep embankments in place.

 

[two sheds]

bloody hell interesting fact no. 23

never realized it had been here that long, I thought it was recent. No public railways but I'm in an old mining district in Cornwall and there were railway lines to bring the coal in and take the copper out. Must be it - they grow particularly strongly along a couple of the old lines.

ta for that

 

[T & P]

I spent several years thinking my garden was blighted by knotweed, and then it occurred me to check with a gardener friend of mine and learnt what I have is in fact bindweed. Still a bastard to eradicate but not nearly as damaging as knotweed, I am told. Probably far less of a headache if we ever need to sell the flat as well.

 

[Lizzy Mac]

Except that it doesn't kill them so they are back within days. I think something like glyphosate is ok for that very localised, close application by hand sprayer. It kills the roots but biodegrades on contact with the ground. The roots are what cause the damage. It's not good in agriculture though as it is hard to contain and kills everything over large areas, except a small number of resistant plants, so wrecks biodiversity. There is also some evidence that it may be a carcinogen with high exposure so protection should be worn. Although obviously, if you don't like chemicals full stop, it's a no no whatever. I use it but very sparingly, sometimes even just leaf by leaf.

Hoeing will kill annual weeds and grasses so no need for a contact herbicide, and if done on a regular basis it will weaken and then kill young Buddleja seedlings. I don't think a Dandelion would lift the pavement. I do think it would be better to hoe rather than have lethal chemicals in the hands of people who are not likely to read the label, or spray in favourable conditions or at the right time of day. And if they are not wearing protective clothing, not protecting themselves, I doubt they care much about the people around them.

I'm really not sure what you mean by "biodegrades on contact with the ground".

 

[gentlegreen]

Glyphosate is approved for food crops - it's just a modified amino acid.
I will be deploying it at some point to get rid of my bamboo.
I'm a massive fan of pavement weeds and am always annoyed when the council nuke them.

 

[two sheds]

I'm really not sure what you mean by "biodegrades on contact with the ground".

It says that on the container I've got, too. I was puzzled.

 

[Lizzy Mac]

It says that on the container I've got, too. I was puzzled.

Exactly. I'm sure that it means nothing. Does it also say don't use near water? There are real reasons for this.

I just lifted this from a Government site.
Safe and effective use of chemical methods to manage invasive plants requires a working knowledge of how to select and apply herbicides properly, a solid understanding of how herbicides kill or suppress plants, and knowledge of the risks associated with their use, such as effects on water quality or nontarget organisms.

I'm pretty sure that the average Joe knows none of these things and if I know one thing, it's that people don't read labels. Otherwise gardens wouldn't be bright blue from slugs pellets, which from memory is recommended 1 pellet per m2.

 

[ChrisSouth]

Perhaps I have only just noticed, but I have never seen so many weeds growing on the pavement and kerb edges as now. They are everywhere on Tulse Hill, and I've seen plenty around Brixton as well.

I've started to look for them in elsewhere, but the issue seems far more prominent in Lambeth than in other areas of London I've been in recently.

Have anyone else noticed these pesky invaders?

I've noticed this a lot where I live (Herne Hill/LJ). In previous years Lambeth contractors have come round and sprayed walls and kerbs with weedkiller then swept them away. I've not seen them around this year, so I'm assuming that this is what the issue is. It's also been a noticeably warm and wet summer, hence things growing faster and longer than usual.

 

[bimble]

In terms of Lambeth cuts to services, reduced expenditure on weeding not a big shocker really is it.

 

[gentlegreen]

I was in a posh area of Bristol today and they have some really classy pavement weeds - though these were actually in the gutter :-

 

[bi0boy]

I've noticed this a lot recently around here, I'll try and get some pictures tomorrow.

Perhaps it's caused by a reduction in pesticide use by councils, either due to increased regulation, lack of money or more awareness about their harmful effects.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Saw a wild pansy bravely poking up through the paving on Brixton high street near the Beehive. Lovely.

 

[friendofdorothy]

I'm a massive fan of pavement weeds and am always annoyed when the council nuke them.

Last year Lambeth weeded all the lovely poppies and wild thyme that was growing in the gap between my front and the pavement. That was my gap not theirs! but they missed the grass and chickweed growing between paving slabs pavement nearby. grrr!