A perennial, spreading by seed. Common in arable land. Wiry branched stems with 'knots' at leaf joints - swollen and reddish with a covering silvery scale. The leaves are lance-shaped with a short stalk and usually have a dark blotch in the centre. The seeds can remain dormant for some time and often Redshank is one of the first weeds to germinate from imported topsoil or when cultivating a new garden - the seedling has a characteristicly long upright first true leaf.
Flowers from June to October - a dense spike of small pink flowers at the tips of stem.
Height - up to 60 cm.
Hoe or hand pull, tough branching tap-root. Does not survive regular mowing.
Weedkillers to use:-
Dichlobenil prevents emergence of seedlings among established woody plants, for up to one year.
Glyphosate is a systemic which kills the root

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