Weed or not?

Can anyone identify this plant? I think it's a week but it's coming up all over the garden. Inherited the garden and not sure what should be coming up at this time or year.
Don't know wheter to pull it up/or kill it.
please help

Debs

 

It's a weed to me.
If you dig it up you will find a spiderous root system that spreads below ground and gets everywhere.
Dig it out whenever you can to keep it at bay.
Someone will come along soon with a name for it.

 

Looks like Ranunculus repens. Common name creeping buttercup.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculus_repens

 

Yes, Creeping Buttercup. Spreads mainly by runners over the soil surface. I wouldn't worry about it growing too much in grass/lawn (I prefer grass with a good range of species in it), but you'd want to remove it from flower borders.

 

Think of it like a strawberry and how that grows, then you will see lots of little ones spring up before your eyes. Soon there will be lots of yellow flowers and the whole process starts again.
If you want this effect leave them in, in not dig them out before they flower or have chance of spreading.

 

Thank you so much. Just had a look at your link and it looks like you are right. Will now have to go round the garden and dig up as much as I can. Shame though I suppose as it's quite pretty but very invasive. Thanks again x

 

Have lots in the flower borders so a digging I must go. Haven't noticed any in the lawn as of yet but plenty of daisy's there to break up the grass lol x

 

No flowers yet, so I will get removing x Thanks for your help x

 

I quite like it, as long as I stop it going into the veg plot.

 

As long as it never escapes the confines of the lawn, there should be no need to dig it up. Regular mowing and raking will sort it if the lawn is healthy.

The raking will lift it enough for the mower to get it, and the mower will keep topping it and weakening it until it is no longer strong enough to compete against the grass.

 

Old Chinese Proverb:-
She who does not dig will find buttercup creeping through the grass