Weeds

Annual Meadow Grass

Annual meadow-grass (Poa annua) and related species

Black-grass

A competitive grass-weed with distinctive dark coloured seed heads (hence its common name) and now the most important herbicide-resistant weed of arable crops in Western Europe. More of a problem on heavier clay or silt soils, especially if drilled early and where there is minimum tillage.

Broad-leaved weeds

A wide range of broad-leaved weeds occur in UK arable fields which have similar management

Bromes

A group of competitive annual arable grassy weed species with flower heads that droop as they mature

Charlock

Charlock  (Sinapis arvensis) and Wild radish (or runch) (Raphanus raphanistrum)

Chickweed

A common annual broad-leaved weed

Cleavers

An extremely competitive broadleaved weed

Couch grass

A tall, very vigorous perennial grass with white, creeping underground rhizomes

Cranesbill

A hairy annual weed, up to 60 cm tall with pink-purple flowers

Docks

Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) & Curled dock (Rumex crispus)

Groundsel

A common broad-leaved weed

Italian rye-grass

An upright annual grassy weed. Two species of rye-grass commonly occur in the UK: perennial rye-grass (Lolium perenne) and Italian rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum). Perennial rye-grass rarely occurs as a serious weed in UK arable crops, except after rye-grass seed crops, whereas Italian rye-grass is an increasing problem, especially in autumn-sown crops.

Mayweed

Scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum)

Poppy

A common broad-leaved weed

Rat’s-tail Fescue

An annual grass weed

Thistles

5 species: Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Smooth sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), Prickly sow-thistle (Sonchus asper) & Perennial sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

Wild Oat

An annual grass weed with tufted florets