TACKLE PERENNIAL WEEDS

When digging over bare soil, take care to remove the roots of perennial weeds. The bri le, white roots of bindweed are distinctive and easy to spot but can be difficult to extricate from clay soil.

These roots grow deeply in the soil. Take out as much as possible because every piece will grow into a new plant. Ground elder tends to stay closer to the surface and can form a mat of intertwining creeping stems. Couch grass is semi-evergreen and is easy to find, even now, so you can dig out the roots.

Where these weeds are growing dig over the whole area and lift the herbaceous plants. Weeds will have infiltrated clumps of plants and if you just dig around them it will be impossible to get rid of them. Dig up plants, carefully separate into small pieces and pull out weed roots. If the bed is badly infested leave it fallow for a year and replant the plants in a new bed or in pots for a year.