Smooth Sow-thistle

A common annual weed of disturbed soils and newly sown areas, but not of well-maintained turf surfaces. Mowing a surface encourages the weed to develop a rosette adaptation, relatively low to the ground. Its leaves have shallow weak jagged edges, being grey-green in colour. It flowers from June to October, having yellow flower heads up to 25mm in diameter, but variable in size, although these would not normally be seen in a turf situation. It will grow in a range of soil conditions, from dry to moist, although preferring a more neutral, not acidic, soil pH, in open, not shaded, conditions. Its scientific name is Sonchus oleraceus.