9 minute read
Feature
Cross Border
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Surprised to find herself flat on her back, she looked sideways. Inches from her face, her terrier was sporting a similarly stunned expression in her fur trimmed, smoky eyes.
They’d been walking parallel to the river. Marshy, thickly populated with brambles and rotting fallen trees covered in moss. Scrambling over slippery logs and side-stepping thorny trip wires required stamina, agility and close quarter concentration.
So when the deer rose out of the ground where it had lain hidden and camouflaged in the brown, decaying detritus, she’d been unprepared. In its flight it struck her full in the chest, leapt gracefully over her dog and fled the scene, leaving her prone. The terrier was in disbelief; the nerve of that funny looking dog with the pointy feet and sticks on its head!
Years before, resting literally in the palm of her hand, she’d been the tiniest puppy when she was that best-of-all birthday present. Himself had bought a chicken coop and told her to look in the Land Rover for another gift. Expecting a chicken – well, you would, wouldn’t you – she was surprised to find a little scrap of excited, yapping fur.
‘Chicken’ didn’t quite cut it as a name, so they chose something fittingly cute and chirpy for the tiny creature. And she was extremely cute and terribly chirpy, but she was also a terrier… A Border-cross at that. With a bit of a volatile nature, she was often referred to as the ‘cross Border’.
To be fair, her wayward traits presented themselves early on and they should have been prepared from the get go. Her very first walk was going so well. Proud owner, tiny puppy, lots of compliments and charm. Until tiny puppy scented something more interesting in the form of two large dogs on the other side of the park, that is. She homed in on them. My, she was fast – like a blunt and furry missile.
Her proud owner, not so much. She scooped up the miscreant whilst panting and wheezing like an asthmatic accordion with the effort of running and yelling at the same time. The two large dogs and owner were, thankfully, amused at the tiny terrier who’d been telling them off and making a dreadful noise, something between a scream, a bark and a howl. And at a surprising volume for one so small. The weeny Houdini once even disappeared from the rigorously ‘dog proofed’ garden for a whole day, returning triumphant and unrepentant with a cargo of a thousand ticks. Her mistress picked up her wriggling furry body and kissed her; so relieved she was back, and the dog so pleased to be back, that noone could be cross.
Yes, she admitted it without a shred of shame - that dog had her wrapped around her little claw. She was putty in her paws.
But the terrier would lie on her sick bed all day when her mistress was ill. A personal protection squad of one, snout towards the door she was ready to repel all hostiles. And when her mistress cradled her in her arms and kissed her soft ears, smelling faintly of elderflowers, the small dog would croon and half close her eyes with pleasure.
But the cross Border was also, it has to be said, ‘a bit of a worry’.
One sunny Saturday just before Christmas, the terrier was running through a narrow thicket as they walked alongside on the grassy riverbank. Himself, hearing the drone of an insect, commented that it was very late for wasps. When they reached the end of the wood they called their dog. And called. Eventually she tottered out of the trees, collapsing at their feet. Having presumably encountered the mother lode nest, the small, furry body was crawling with wasps.
Himself scooped up her limp and comatose little body. A mercy dash to the nearest vet, adrenaline shots and an oxygen tent – and the terrier was saved! Relieved tears all round. Reluctantly they left the prone and semi-conscious dog with the vets, who said she needed to overnight with them. However, they hadn’t long been home when the ‘phone rang.
“Hello?” In the background, she could hear the most awful noise. Hard to describe – something between a scream, a bark and a howl. And so loud. It sounded familiar… And cross. “Hello.” Said the slightly stressed sounding voice at the other end. “Please can you come and collect your dog. We think she’s well enough to go home…”
But all things come to an end and eventually she lost her constant companion, her terrier. To use the word ‘lost’ is, of course, a flimsy euphemism - it makes it sound like she wandered off. Which actually was clearly a recurring theme throughout her 16 odd years. But all too soon, the wet-nosed, furry vandal broke her heart and was gone, sauntering off and wagging her tail behind her…
Weed Control
Garden weed control can be challenging, let’s understand why
When I first began studying plant science I remember a tutor asking me; ‘Kenyon, when is a daffodil a weed’? The answer it seemed was simpler than I knew at the time. Weeds can be described as any plant growing in an area where it is not wanted. If that daffodil is in your rose-bed it might be considered a weed. If your lawn grass is in your flower-bed it most certainly is a weed. You must hold a suitable qualification as a paid professional applying pesticides to control weeds. If you ask your regular gardener to do it, and she doesn’t hold a licence, then you are both breaking the law. The general code of practice covering the use of pesticides states that you should attempt other forms of control before you start to use pesticides to control a weed issue.
Weeds can be relatively small, like clover, or large like thistles. They are typically fast growing and spread rapidly, impacting on plant growth in and around them. Weeds are characterised as narrow leafed, like grasses, broad-leafed, like dandelions or woody, like brambles. Large weeds can often be removed by hand, but removing smaller weeds from your lawn may require an effective pesticide.
Pesticides used for treating weeds are often called herbicides. There are two types of herbicides; selective herbicides control only certain types of weeds, typically either broad-leafed or grass-like weeds. Non-selective herbicides control and kill all plant types with which they come into contact. The application of a broad-leaf herbicide will affect and control the growth of broad-leaf plants. As such, this herbicide can usually be applied to existing lawns, but will control only broad-leaf weeds. A grass herbicide controls the growth of grass type plants. Grass herbicides can safely be applied to flower beds and will have no impact on broadleaf plants, but will control and impact grasses.
How weed killers work
Everything we use in your garden is safe for everything that uses your garden – bees too! Some weed killers work by disrupting the fine balance of biochemical processes that occur within the plant. Often causing uncontrolled growth, twisting, thickening, elongation, and eventually death. The weed literally grows itself to death. Others target photosynthesis, the process where plants produce energy from sunlight. Blocking photosynthesis is only part of the story. When photosynthesis is blocked, highly toxic oxygen and other compounds form within the plant. These compounds rapidly destroy cell membranes, causing the weed to die.
Many selective herbicides target enzymes within plant cells. Enzymes allow complex chemical reactions to occur. When herbicide targets an enzyme it disrupts the sequence of complex chemical reactions, producing highly toxic compounds in the plant and killing the weed. So why don’t selective herbicides kill the useful plants we are trying to grow? The main reason is because the useful plants are able to metabolise (break down) the herbicide more rapidly than the weeds, allowing them to survive.
When to use weed killers
Herbicides are most effective on actively growing plants, as the active ingredient is carried by the sap of the plant. The faster the plant is growing, the quicker the solution will be moved through the plant. Application during less active growth periods are also effective, however the results will take longer.
How to use
Weed plants fall into different families. Much like sprouts and cabbage are different plants but within the same group of plants, some weeds are in the same family group and some in different groups. Certain plant groups are susceptible to certain herbicides that other groups might not be affected by. Identifying what weed you need to kill, understanding which plant group it is in and what pesticide needs to be used to treat that specific group is the key to weed killing success. All herbicides have application rates. Much like medication you take at home has a recommended dose. Exceed the dose and you may cause issues, take too little and there may be no effect. Getting the dose right isn’t just about how much you pour out of the bottle, it’s also about how much water you add to the mix and how much of the mix is applied to the weed.
Is one application enough?
If you select the correct herbicide for the weed you aim to kill, use the correct dose rate and apply at the right time then often one application is enough. However, some weed varieties are more resilient than others. Some have thick leaf coatings or hairs that reduce the contact of the droplets of pesticide that have been sprayed on the weeds. Some weeds are persistent and are not controlled after only one application and several, consecutive applications are recommended. Applications may be necessary throughout the growing season and should continue until the weeds have been successfully controlled. Failing to do so may increase the weed’s resistance to the type of pesticide used – much like the risks of not finishing a course of antibiotics. Often additives can be used along with the pesticide to increase the efficacy of the chemicals present.
Remember, weeds are fast growing and quick to set and disperse seed. These seeds germinate to form new weeds, so regular herbicide applications are essential. It’s relatively complex, which is why you need to study for an exam to carry a licence to use pesticides. All the products we use in the garden are safe for pets and wildlife. For effective lawn weed control speak to a lawn care professional.
Ian Kenyon sits on the committee of the UK Lawn Care Association and owns Shrekfeet Professional Lawncare. He is always happy to offer friendly, professional advice and help: T: 01962 460146 www.shrekfeet.com
