1. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 1 Weeds

2. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 2 Weeds and Weed Control What makes a weed How weeds work – survival and invasion techniques Weed Prevention Mulches for weed control Weed control and clearance Clearing weed-infested ground

3. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 3 Weeds and Weed Control Simply put a weed is an invasive plant, growing where you don’t want it Weeds can divided into three main categories 1.Ephemeral 2.Annual 3.Perennial

4. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 4 Plants That Can Become weeds Plants that are aggressive colonisers become weeds tend to be wild plants some garden plants while others have been introduced

5. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 5 Plants That Can Become weeds Fallopia japonica Fallopia baldschuanica Alcamiller molis Rhododendron ponticum

6. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 6 Ephemeral Weeds Some weeds can complete their life cycle within five to six weeks Weeds such as hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) can be described as ephemeral that is completing a several of life cycles within one year Where the growing and soil conditions a favourable weeds such as bittercress can complete many life cycles in one year

7. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 7 Ephemeral Weeds Cardamine Hirsuta Hairy bittercress Stellaria media Chickweed Senecio vulgaris Groundsel

8. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 8 Annual Weeds Annual weeds grow, set seed and die in the space of one year Seed is their mechanism for spread and survival. Can be a problem in disturbed soil

9. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 9 Perennial Weeds Perennial weeds survive from year to year through a range of mechanisms for long- term survival and spread Seed produced in huge quantities Runners and stolons which grow along/in the ground producing buds along them

10. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 10 Perennial Weeds Roots e.g.dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and rhizomes can re grow after cutting or dying back Bulbs and bulbils that break off easily when the plant is dug up in the case of Lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria Ranunculus ficaria Lesser celandine Taraxacum officinale Dandelion

11. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 11 Invasion Techniques Quick turnaround – seed Reproduction in adverse conditions Long-term survival of seed Huge quantities of seed Regeneration from roots Rapid smothering growth Effective seed distribution Rapid vegetative spread

12. Tuesday 27th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 12 Principles of Weed Control Know your weeds Design out a problem Take time to prepare the ground Choose methods of weed control that suit the time and energy you have When clearing ground be realistic Never leave the soil bare Use mulches