Mind-your-own-business or baby’s tears, Soleirolia soleirolii (syn. Helxine soleirolii) is a creeping perennial that bears minute flowers and forms dense, slowly spreading mats of bright green foliage. The thin, fleshy, much-branched stems root as they slowly spread. It is a native of Corsica and Sardinia and is occasionally grown in rock gardens and in greenhouses. It readily colonises crevices in dry stonewalls. However, it can soon get out of control and is a difficult 'weed' to control as it regenerates easily from any small sections of stem over-looked when weeding or hoeing.
Borders
In borders and other parts of the garden Soleirolia should be eradicated as thoroughly as possible using measures applicable to the situation, for example burying it deeply, hoeing repeatedly in dry weather or applying a weedkiller based on glyphosate.
Lawns
Patches of Soleirolia in lawns are best carefully removed in April or September, then fork over and re-establish soil levels, and re-sowing or turfing as necessary. Spot-treat patches with a non-selective weedkiller containing glyphosate, using the aerosol formulation (Advanced Glyphosate Spot Weeder for Beds & Borders) to limit turf damage. Re-sow bare patches with grass seed or re-turf in winter (October to February). Where Soleirolia is more widespread in lawns, lightly scarify several times during March/April and again during September to weaken the plants. Feed the lawn regularly to encourage vigour and density in the turf. Soleirolia is resistant to all lawn weedkillers and lawn weedkiller mixtures approved for garden use.
Other areas
Where Soleirolia appears in awkward corners or in relatively inaccessible situations, try treating it with a foliage-absorbed weedkiller containing glyphosate. For better results lightly bruise the plant with the back of a rake or crush it underfoot before applying glyphosate.
Sarah Durrant