Storksbill Infestation - Urgent Advice Needed

Discussion in 'Lawns' started by RowanGrove, May 22, 2023.

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  1. RowanGrove

    RowanGrove Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi all,

    I'm new to the forum and quite new to gardening so please be gentle!

    Me and my partner have just moved home, part of the home is a beautiful and large garden in which we both adore.

    We've settled in and are tackling looking after it.

    Unfortunately in doing so we've discovered that the majority (around 3/4) of the lawn itself is absolutely covered in storksbill.

    As I understand it, this is a very invasive weed which can and will spread itself rapidly from April.

    I have tried to manually pull the weeds but I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle, it has taken me almost half a day to pull around a 1/5th of the total amount I can visibly see within the lawn.

    What solutions, if any, do I have to combat it?

    I understand herbicide is a possible option but I want to avoid this as best as possible as I want to avoid using something which could potentially cause damage.

    Any and all help is appreciated!
     
    RowanGrove, May 22, 2023
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  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Have you got a picture.
     
    pete, May 22, 2023
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  3. RowanGrove

    RowanGrove Apprentice Gardener

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    Sure, here's a picture of the weed removed and the weed in the lawn

    Screenshot 2023-05-22 21.49.54.png Screenshot 2023-05-22 21.48.48.png Screenshot 2023-05-22 21.47.24.png
     
    RowanGrove, May 22, 2023
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  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    If you got rid of it, would you have much grass left.
     
    pete, May 22, 2023
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  5. RowanGrove

    RowanGrove Apprentice Gardener

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    If I'm being honest, I can't imagine much would be left - we've currently managed to hold around 20m2 free of them but the rest of the lawn appears to have them scattered everywhere
     
    RowanGrove, May 22, 2023
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  6. Selleri

    Selleri Koala

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    Welcome to the forum @RowanGrove :)

    You can declare a full blown war on the storkbills or decide you are after more natural, wildlife friendly look and just live with it. Frequent mowing and improving the soil/ overseeding the grass might give you a balance that is acceptable- and you could focus more on the areas near the house.

    Needless to say, personally I'm inclined to laziness eco friendliness :heehee: but we are all different. We have many lawn experts here in the forum so I'm sure you will get great advise. :)
     
    Selleri, May 23, 2023
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  7. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I'd be inclined to work at it gradually. Maybe allocate an hour a week to dig them out using a sharp pointed trowel such as this:-

    Woodside Traditional Stainless Steel 4” Garden Transplanting Hand Trowel Shovel

    I would work from the edges of the lawn inwards in order to stop the weeds getting into the flower beds. Also, that way, you have the psychological effect of it appearing to go faster as you get more and more fed up with removing them - the space in the middle appears to reduce exponentially. :)

    In the meantime, keep mowing. :blue thumb:
     
    shiney, May 23, 2023
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  8. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

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    Would somebody enlighten me as to the proper name of "Storksbill" as I was expecting to see a hardy erodium or geranium of some form.
     
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      NigelJ, May 23, 2023
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    • Upsydaisy

      Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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      So was I too :biggrin:
       
      Upsydaisy, May 23, 2023
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    • Upsydaisy

      Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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      Upsydaisy, May 23, 2023
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Storksbill, I got the impression it was an American term.
      I assumed we were talking about cranesbill.

      Not easy to see what it is in the picture.
       
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        pete, May 23, 2023
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        If it is erodium they are a proper pain to get rid of because they produce seeds so early in the season and have those explosive pods, scattering seeds all over. Hand weeding is going to be difficult because there will be a bank of seeds waiting to germinate.

        I don't have experience of them in a lawn but think to get a bowling green finish would need a nuclear option, weedkiller and fresh topsoil. Or scrape off the existing sods and turf, a job for the professionals depending on the lawn area.
         
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          Last edited: May 23, 2023
          JWK, May 23, 2023
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Our lawns are full of weeds. I did work to dig out the biggest ones but just cut everything down low and they don't notice

          P1570038.JPG

          Until you look closer
          P1570039.JPG
           
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            shiney, May 24, 2023
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          • hans

            hans Gardener

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            Soak area you intend to work on night before.
            I have lots of dasies but like shiney it looks ok from a distance. My 30 yearold mower (like new) deals with it very well.
             
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              hans, May 25, 2023
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