Getting rid of dockweed

[QuizMaster]

I have a large "lawn". I manage to keep some of it under control, but a large area has been taken over by dock and rushes.
Now the dock is going to seed, I don't want to just attack it with a strimmer or the seeds will be everywhere.
So I have taken to digging them out and dumping them on some nearby waste ground. Leaving holes in the ground. My plan is to come around with a wheelbarrow load of sand/compost to fill the holes then spread some grass seed.

Questions:
(1) Is there an easier way?
(2) When can I sow grass?
(3) Are they just going to come back? I've been trying to get every bit of tap, but there's always going to be a bit left.
(4) The rushes, man the rushes. Like an overgrown grotesque version of grass. There is no hope, there are hundreds of clumps. They will probably grow back as quick as I can dig them out. Any suggestions? I'm not into chemical warfare but I'm not a strict purist either. A commonsense compromise would be welcome.

[ina]

Question 1 - no. Unless you turn your lawn into a meadow, and have various animals, including goats, grazing on it. Goats are quite good at keeping docks down, but they won't kill hem off altogether, either.

2 - I don't know.

3 - probably yes. You can reduce the likelihood of them coming back by doing what you are doing anyway (try to get every little bit out), plus encouraging other stuff to grow.

4 - If there are rushes, there's a bit too much water around! Is the drainage ok, or do you just have very water retaining soil?

[MINESAPINT]

I reckon if we are talking docks or dandelions we are talking of pretty much the same beast. I have a lawn/orchard infested with dandelions. I had an idea a few years ago I would plant some areas of wild flowers in the lawn. I dug some areas over and meticulously removed all the dandelion roots then planted my wild flower seeds. The rabbits loved the wild flowers so the area was re sown as grass. 4 years later there are virtually no dandelions in the areas I cleared.

I will be sowing grass seed tomorrow (N Yorks). The usual advice is sow grass seed spring or autumn as the summers are supposed to be too dry for the seed to become established. I suppose the last unsuitable summer in that case was 1976!

[Ellendra]

Are we talking curly dock? If so, in early spring before the flower stalks appear, go through and cut out all the leaves. Wash, cook, and eat the leaves (they taste lemony). As long as you keep them harvested constantly, the plant won't be able to send up a flower stalk, and eventually will exhaust itself.

[QuizMaster]

I don't know, it doesn't look curly.
I grew sorrel before, and it seemed be in the same family as dock. And the sorrel has a sharp, almost lemony taste.

But isn't dock poisonous? It is classified as a noxious weed here in Ireland anyway. By law it must be cleared from agricultural land.

[QuizMaster]

Update: It seems we have broadleaf dock. Wikipedia says this:

Broadleaf dock is considered a weed and is slightly poisonous. It is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959[2]. Livestock have been known to get sick after feeding on it. But eradicating the plants is difficult. The perennial plant can have a deep taproot reaching 5 feet down. Also, the milk of the plant has been known to cause mild dermatitis.

Seeds have toothed wing structures, allowing them to be dispersed by wind or water, and also allow them to attach to animals or machinery to be spread great distances. They can lie dormant for years before germination, making vigilant pulling or tilling essential.

First year plants can seed, making early detection important for eradication.

The main weaknesses of Broadleaf are its poor competition, crowding causes flowering to be delayed for up to three years, and its susceptibility to disturbance. Frequent tilling will disrupt roots and kill seedlings and even older plants. The plant also thrives in moist environments and improved drainage can also help control its growth.

[Odsox]

The rushes, man the rushes. Like an overgrown grotesque version of grass. There is no hope, there are hundreds of clumps. They will probably grow back as quick as I can dig them out. Any suggestions? I'm not into chemical warfare but I'm not a strict purist either.

If your lawn isn't a bog and you live in Donegal these rushes are the acid loving ones rather than the water loving ones.
If you lime your lawn a couple of times a year (early spring & early autumn) your rushes should soon admit defeat.
Mowing them off on a regular basis annoys them too.

[Peggy Sue]

Interesting stuff about the lime....

I can only add- about the holes you are leaving, they are great germiantion spots for new weeds (noteably ragwort likes holes left from weeding) so rather than creat a new problem try to get something established there (although ideally grass really does like spring or autumn, but if we have another wet summer you'll be fine)

If you did resport to livestock apparently pigs are ideal, they snuffle around and get the roots out for you- bit extreame though!

[QuizMaster]

Oh great, cos we have ragwort too!
I'll fill all those holes as soon as I can get my 11yo nephew to come and do it for less than 1/2 minimum wage. Ah good old child labour, you can't beat it.
About drainage, planting a few trees would improve drainage, would it not?
I'm a believer in fast-growing willow. Eventually I'll only have a narrow strip of lawn, the rest of the plot being put to work in various ways.

[ina]

I'm trying the willow bit, too - I have rushes growing in my drive... And willows like it wet.

Docks aren't that poisonous - as with most things, it depends on the quantity. Goats even tolerate quite a bit of ragwort. They won't touch foxglove, though- they seem to know what's really dangerous!

[MrsD'ville mkII]

Bl**dy docks! We have them growing abso-bl**dy-lutely everywhere and the roots just go on for ever. If only everything else grew with such vigour

[Peggy Sue]

Bindweed seems to Mrs F!!