Broad-leaved dock is found throughout Britain and there is no climatic limitation on distribution. It is the most abundant dock in grassland. Dock seedlings are poor competitors and can only establish in open or disturbed patches in standing vegetation.

Methods of control

• Cutting is an emergency treatment to prevent seeding, but one that must be followed by a control technique.
• Pulling by hand provides immediate results, but will require more than one treatment. Labour is supplied.
• Selective herbicide application can be done by knapsack spraying or boom spraying and is extremely effective.
• Weed wiping uses a smaller amount of, and less harmful, chemicals than selective herbicide application, although this varies depending on the height of surrounding vegetation