[beth123]

Morning all

For a few years I've been trying to get rid of the poppies in my front garden.  They are beautiful but they seem to stop every thing else from growing.  I've tried digging them over and pulling them up but they just keep on coming back. Does any one have any suggestions??

[Yorkie]

Unfortunately they're one of the most prolific self-seeders around!

The seed bank is already in the ground.  All you can do is to contine to hoe or pull them out, never letting them get to the point anywhere near flowering / creating a seed pod.

[8doubles]

Poppies like soil that is dug over and i think the seed can lie dormant for over 20 years. Keep digging the soil over to make the seed germinate and remove it before it sets seed.

[beth123]

Thanks for that, i'll have to keep at it.

[Goosegirl]

What sort of poppies are they? I have Welsh ones and they have a deep tap root so I did them up and don't let them flower. There's always one or two right in the middle of a shrub whic I haven't spotted and - lo - more seedlings. I do have some red field ones which are easy to pull up. Mulching deeply after they have started to germinate would help too.

[beth123]

Im not sure which type they are, they were here when we moved in the house.  Im just wondering whether to plant some more wild flowers to complement them rather than keep trying to dig them up.  How does the saying go, if you cant beat em join em!   

[Goosegirl]

Maybe the best idea. What colour are they? If they are yellow or orange with small bright green leaves and about 1' high, they are Welsh ones. Red shades with darker green leaves whose stems are taller and flop are probably field ones. Grey-green delicate leaves and a mixture of pinks, white, cream, bright orange and bronze-red are most likely to be Icelandic. Hoe round regularly and dead-head before they set seed and you should be able to control them to a degree.

[RichardA]

Hoe hoe hoe
R

[beth123]