Help identify a weed

Hi all

This is my first thread and i'm afrade it's a plee for help! I have this weed growing in my back garden and it grows at such a rate it'll swallow up a wall in weeks. Now i've just started to dig up the garden to completly re do it and dug this out by it's root, however on looking into it, it does seem to display the same qualities as Japanese Knotweed and if it is then i've contaminated most of the soil in the garden see picture (if my uploading worked that is) might have to check my post......

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1809/photo030n.jpg

Anyway, i hope someone can help identify this horror of a plant

Thanks in advance

Irvin

 

hello

it doesnt look like knotweed thank goodness

i am a novice but would have a stab at ground elder but wait til one of the experts has a look see


loopy

 

Thanks for the reply, i should probably add that it will climb up walls and cover a good amount of ground. I suppose i should have taken a picture before i cut it down really:(

 

Welcome Irvin.
Don't panic. It is definitely not Japanese knotweed!
Are the leaflets in 5 lobes attached to 1 stalk?
I believe that your pic shows a small part of the leaf
It looks like Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Common name virginia creeper.
It is often seen covering wall,it goes a stunning colour in the autumn.



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

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&rls=p%2Ccom.microsoft%3Aen-gb%3AIE-ContextMenu&rlz=1I7SUNA_en-GB&biw=1239&bih=528&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Parthenocissus+quinquefolia.+autumn&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

If ever you need more plants id please can you add a pic of the whole plant, plus close ups to show leaves (opposite or alternate) and any flowers, fruits, berries. It all helps to build up a pic of what scale we are looking at.

 

Ahah! Yes i think thats it! Thankyou so much Surfer, i was really starting to panic! Having said that, althought i took the main root out, there are still plenty of horizontal roots in the ground, and bits of root matter scattered about my soil. Do you think i'll have a problem with it? I was hoping to seed a lawn pretty soon you see.....

Thanks

Irvin

 

You don`t show how its growing on the wall,
I have planted a virginia creeper to cover an unsightly fence ,it can be controlled and its very attractive :yez: