Patient Gardener dot Co dot uk has a very helpful section on one of my nemeses of the garden. Mares Tail! It seems like enrichment of the soil combined with pulling up the earliest ugly shoots before the fronds appear is the most effective way of getting rid of this horrible weed. So I know what I’m up against and enriching soil with the compost we are now making in three bins in the garden. The biggest bin has fine mesh to hinder Ratus ratus and it sits under the bush we have to keep under control.

I could get lost in my photo archive trying to find pictures of the mares tail we’ve had but if you look up patient gardener, you’ll find them there too! These images show the advancing mares tail so you’ve left it too late.

My attack on Spiky might have to start tomorrow unless I decide to drive off to find snowdrops… there are still some to be found…