Shepherd's purse
Find how to get rid of shepherd's purse weeds, with our expert help.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to act | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Shepherd's purse is a quick-growing, short-lived weed. One plant is able to produce hundreds of seeds which compound the problem. Its lifecycle is approximately three to four weeks from germination to setting seed. It can be introduced into the garden through the compost of new plants purchased from nurseries or garden centres. It spreads from neighbouring gardens and the seed is capable of remaining dormant in the soil to germinate when it's turned up to the surface by cultivation.
Symptoms
Quick growing, short-lived plants, which can produce many generations in a single season by setting large amounts of seed.
Find it on
freshly cultivated ground, compost in pots, paving, walls, vegetable plots
Organic
Pull out young plants individually by hand or hoe off young seedlings and remove them from the soil surface before they get a chance to set seed. Avoid disturbing the soil deeply as this will bring dormant seeds to the surface. Mulch around plants with 5cm layer of garden compost or composted bark mulch.
Chemical
Spray young plants with a contact weedkiller before they get chance to flower.
Christmas offer
Gift a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine and save 51% on the shop price.
Year Planner 2025 on sale
Starting to plan your gardening year? The Year Planner 2025 is packed with expert advice from the Gardeners’ World team, to ensure you have your best gardening year yet.
New podcast series
Join Monty and the team for advice on winter gardening, tulips, caring for birds, house plants and more in the new BBC Gardeners' World Magazine podcast series.
