WEED WOES

IT'S TIME TO SHOW THE DOOR TO THOSE UNINVITED SPRING GARDEN GUESTS

- DIARMUID GAVIN

GARDENS in May are full of promise. As temperatures warm up, trees, shrubs, and flowers burst into blossom, creating a vibrant and colourful landscape.

However, this time of year also marks peak flowering season for many uninvited guests, commonly known as weeds.

While there is now a more relaxed attitude towards wildflowers - recognising their important role in supporting pollinators - in practical terms we often need to remove them - especially if they're growing in driveways, patios, or competing with cherished plants.

Some weeds, like bindweed and ground elder, are particularly invasive and can quickly strangle your cultivated perennials if unchecked.

Traditionally, gardeners relied on chemical herbicides to control weeds.