Common daisy

Symptoms

Spreading perennial plant that produces mats of foliage. Easily recognised by pretty, small, white-petalled flowers with a round yellow centre.

Find it on: established flowerbeds, cultivated ground, cracks in paving, garden walls, lawns

Time to act: spring, summer, autumn, winter

Problem categories

Overview

The common or lawn daisy is able to grow in a wide range of soils, even in compacted soil that's inhospitable to other plants. Daisies may also out-compete cultivated plants and cause them to die. It can spread by forming mats of foliage, and is able to colonise new areas by producing seed.

Solution

Spreading perennial plant that produces mats of foliage. Easily recognised by pretty, small, white-petalled flowers with a round yellow centre.

Organic

Dig or grub out daisies from lawns using an old kitchen knife or a spike-like daisy grubber. Alternatively, slash though the mats of foliage with a knife at weekly intervals to weaken and loosen the plants. Collect mowings from the lawn, as this can help spread daisies. Pull or dig out daisies in borders by hand.

Chemical

Apply a systemic weedkiller to the foliage of daisies in paving or flowerbeds. On lawns, use a selective lawn weedkiller or a lawn feed and weed product.

Discuss this problem

Talkback: Common daisy

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donnabbc 24/11/2011 at 15:27

I never consider daisies to be a problem.
In fact I love the fact that they are wild and have a meadow-like quality. And I have fond childhood memories of making daisy chains with my gran.

FlamingJune 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Glad someone else likes daisies. I like to see them in a lawn, oh that we could keep them, and kill dandelions!

gabamandoc 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I found this site because I wonder if one can have a daisy lawn without grass. Infrequent cuting, great wildlife and beautiful. Where's the catch?
If one doesn't treat grass as precious, what's the problem with daisies (and dandelions)? I think I'm missing something. Am I?

Amanda_Plant 24/11/2011 at 15:29

Daisies (Bellis perennis) are fantastic wild plants. They are also called Woundwort or Bruisewort. Daisies have long been used in domestic herbal medicine including, unsurprisingly, as a cure for fresh wounds and bruises. They are also edible. Use the buds, white petals and lemony flavoured leaves in salads. Beautiful.

Please don't encourage people to put weedkiller all over these useful plants! A lawn consisting of useful plants is stronger and healthier. Better for us and the planet!

Merna 24/11/2011 at 15:29

I agree with Amanda, our wild plants are beautiful we should cherish them. This year the dandelions made as lovely a show as daffodils along the fringes of the motor ways, yet we despise them as weeds. Who was it said a weed is a plant in the wrong place!

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