What is this weed?

Is this it? 

Well, that didn't copy/paste very well.  Try searching on "lesser celandine" and see if it looks like your plant.  Based on previous MOL threads (if I am remembering correctly), this may not go "easily" unless you choose to rip everything out and reseed or put in sod.  Which also isn't that easy, on second thought.  Pretty in the spring, though.

This little weed is very, very tenacious. I've given up and let it live in the lawn, but I also let the violets live in the shady spots of the garden, too. Don't like to use lots of herbicides on the grass because of the birds and the problems the bees have been having. I figure it is sort of pretty in the springtime. Good luck finding a way to remove it - maybe you'll find something that works!

It spreads like a weed.  How do I know?   ...it is slowly moving into my yard from my next door neighbor's yellow drenched lawn.  We're pretty casual about our lawn and its weeds, but I am unhappy about this invasion.

It looks like something that loves water, and doesn't mind having its roots or leaves disturbed, which means it would thrive with regular lawn feeding and maintenance. (That was something our botanists learnt about European plants while trying to remove 'harmless' lawn plants invading pastures and natural grasslands. )  so you're going to have to think of total warfare, or find another way (perhaps discussing with the Township, or Dept Agric if it's a widespread problem).

looks like marsh marigold. very much likes water

other photo won't upload

A related question  -- related to grass anyway!

Is there a way to halt the spreading of grass and weeds into garden beds? I don't care for the look of plastic edging. The cutting around the beds inevitably disappears. Stones might interfere with mowing. Any good solutions out there? Other than having a gardener weekly!

Sheeeep.

If you already have an established garden bed, then the judicious application of weed killer might be your best bet.

If you're putting in a new bed, clear away the top couple of inches of soil, then lay some thick, heavy-duty plastic sheeting onto the subsoil and reinstate the topsoil.  Then, just poke a hole into the plastic wherever you want to plant something.

You might still need to use some weedkiller but, because the soil won't be very deep, weeds should come out easily if you just wanted to get down on your knees and pull them out manually.

That is fig buttercup, and it spreads by pushing through long roots underground.  If you pull it, it has little bulbs, like a tulip.  It is a m*&^$%k;36749/~)^% that will completely take over your yard.  It is ugly as sin when it is about to die.  The only thing which will kill it is the chemical in Roundup which will kill your lawn as well.  It will not only go into your lawn, it will go into your flower beds and shrubs as well.  If your neighbor has it, as does mine, then forget about it; you will never get rid of it.  My former landscaper tells me that one of his clients had to place an entire new lawn.  Unfortunately, we don't have ordinances that forces people with plans that are invasive or plans that are deceased from addressing their issues.  A new lawn costs thousands, and many folks on this thread feel that it is a pretty plant that goes away by itself.  Yeah.  Years of work down the drain that go away by themselves.

Copihue said:

The only thing which will kill it is the chemical in Roundup which will kill your lawn as well.  

Only if you spray it on.  If you apply the glyphosate using a weeding brush or weeding wand, you won't be killing your lawn.

Sheep, that's a great idea --right next to the chicken coops!

Sadly, these garden beds are well established!

The worst weed I ever yanked out bare handed gotits own revenge ! Stinging nettle is aptly named -- my first thought was I had grabbed a wasp!

Yeah, I truly empathise: so hard to describe that unique set of sensations.

The problem with this entire set of plants is that disturbing the roots (ripping the main plant out, or cutting it out) but not totally eradicating the tiny hairlike roots too only stimulates the remnant bits into vigorous growth spurts. It's a survival mechanism; the plant recognises it's under threat and not only grows where it is, the fine roots shoot further afield to establish secondary strong nodes in all directions that will survive if the new heart is also attacked. This is actually part of the propagation process, it's not just pollination of flowers. And what's worse, the bacteria in soil kinda count on it too, because it's the tendrils that mat the soil together, preventing erosion.

Copihue said:

That is fig buttercup, and it spreads by pushing through long roots underground.  If you pull it, it has little bulbs, like a tulip.  It is a m*&^$%k;36749/~)^% that will completely take over your yard.  It is ugly as sin when it is about to die.  The only thing which will kill it is the chemical in Roundup which will kill your lawn as well.  It will not only go into your lawn, it will go into your flower beds and shrubs as well.  If your neighbor has it, as does mine, then forget about it; you will never get rid of it.  My former landscaper tells me that one of his clients had to place an entire new lawn.  Unfortunately, we don't have ordinances that forces people with plans that are invasive or plans that are deceased from addressing their issues.  A new lawn costs thousands, and many folks on this thread feel that it is a pretty plant that goes away by itself.  Yeah.  Years of work down the drain that go away by themselves.

That is what I was afraid of (never being able to get rid of it).  My neighbors on both sides have it as well.  Ugh.  It really is so ugly and it is taking over more and more of our yard every year.  

The ultimate weed solution?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/25/us/turf-means-some-california-lawns-require-no-water.html?ref=todayspaper

My entire neighborhood (up the hill from Cedar Ridge Cafe) is immersed in this plant. I can't imagine getting rid of it. Talked to a garden expert who said that herbicide applied via wand earlier in the year, well before we get to this point, is about the only way to hold it back. In addition to my lawn, it's overspreading all the flowerbeds and virtually choking the larger plants (hydrangea etc.) that are starting to come up.  

Ok, so you were the one taking a picture of my weeds?  LOL, for real. Lesser Calendine IS FROM HELL. IT IS AWFUL.  When we moved here, we had it throughout our back yard. It has since been spreading throughout the neighborhood, and made it to the median, where I suspect one of the above photos was taken. 

So, even the treads, not just the bulbs?

joanne said:

Yeah, I truly empathise: so hard to describe that unique set of sensations.

The problem with this entire set of plants is that disturbing the roots (ripping the main plant out, or cutting it out) but not totally eradicating the tiny hairlike roots too only stimulates the remnant bits into vigorous growth spurts. It's a survival mechanism; the plant recognises it's under threat and not only grows where it is, the fine roots shoot further afield to establish secondary strong nodes in all directions that will survive if the new heart is also attacked. This is actually part of the propagation process, it's not just pollination of flowers. And what's worse, the bacteria in soil kinda count on it too, because it's the tendrils that mat the soil together, preventing erosion.

marsh marigold OK: http://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/nature/marsh_marigold.htm

Lesser calendine NOT OKAY: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/rafi1.htm

Try this: 

Http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/rafi1.htm

That link explains how weed pulling is counterproductive for this plant. As you'll read, it will die down by June, having done it's reproductive work. So death-by-wand is helpful but you need to be persistent over a few seasons.

Yes it is very invasive but by July it will have completely disappeared.  I've grown accustomed to the bloom during early spring and it is a very nice bloom.

Best Regards,

Ron Carter

mtierney said:

A related question  -- related to grass anyway!

Is there a way to halt the spreading of grass and weeds into garden beds? I don't care for the look of plastic edging. The cutting around the beds inevitably disappears. Stones might interfere with mowing. Any good solutions out there? Other than having a gardener weekly!

 First line of attack is to actually pull it out by hand.  That's called 'weeding'. ;-)

Second line of attack is to not let your lawn guys edge your beds and then toss the clumps that have grass in them back in the bed.

I have made my peace with Lesser Celandine.  It is like a soft blanket right now covering my entire perennial bed.   it is an ephemeral, it will be gone by the end of May.  As it starts to wilt, I get impatient and just tear off the plant by hand.

As for the grass...it does not interfere with the health of our lawn.  We fertilize and lime and do all the things we do for grass and just keep mowing.  We have a beautiful green grass carpet ;-)