An article about weeds? I bet you didn’t see that coming.
Weeds boldly grow where nothing has grown before. Their mission is world domination. These pesky plants tolerate poor soil, extreme temperatures, floods, earthquakes and monster truck events.
Remove weeds before they flower and produce seeds. Hand weed or use a hoe, shovel or trowel to remove the roots. If you use a rototiller, you might be spreading the seeds around your garden.
When the soil is wet, either from rain, watering or a dam burst, pull the weeds out of the ground from the base of the weed so you can remove the roots. New weeds can easily grow from pieces that remain in the ground.
Spread 3 inches or more of mulch to block weeds from sunlight and to prevent germination. Some gardeners use wood chips, rocks and bark. Some also use landscape fabrics, but weeds will still grow on top of them.
On hot, dry days I spray undiluted, 10 percent acidic vinegar directly onto the weeds. Caution: It will burn skin. Some gardeners mix in orange oil … which helps. Some add Epsom salt and dish detergent, but I don’t think they’re necessary.
Keep your tools clean to prevent spreading weed parts.
Weeds are either the broadleaf or grassy type. Clover, dandelion and purslane are all broadleafs. Bermuda grass and pampas grass are just two of the grassy types.
Like other plants, weeds can also be divided into annuals, biennials and perennials.
Annuals (e.g., chickweed, crabgrass, knotweed) complete their life cycle in one year. Biennials (e.g., burdock, cheese weed, thistle) live for two years. Perennial weeds (e.g., dandelion, plantain, ragweed) live 2 years or longer.
Regular mowing can minimize crabgrass from flowering and producing seed.
According to the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), lambs quarters are the most common yard weed. Use a sharp hoe to remove this fast-growing annual broadleaf. Or, just eat it; the leaves are edible.
Dandelions are also edible. Or fire up that wine press and make a bottle or two. It pairs well with … a glass. If dandelion wine is not your cup of tea, simply remove them – root and all – by using a dandelion weeding knife.
According to Utah State University, white clover is a weed in lawns, but it’s also a good source of honey. Some other edible or herbal medicinal weeds are borage, chickweeds, cornflower, Shepherd's purse and watercress.
Hey, here’s an idea that fits perfectly into the “He-fell-out-of-the-‘stupid’-tree-and-hit-every-branch-on-the-way-down” category: plant a “weed garden!” Plant edible and beneficial weeds in a separate area so that they don't compete with your vegetable or fruit garden.
I bet you didn’t see that coming either.
Sometimes I question my sanity, but the unicorn in our kitchen said I’m just fine.
Always make sure you fully understand what you are planting and eating.
The WSSA describes the wild morning glory as an invasive vining plant that spreads across the ground, over fences, across rivers and through the woods to grandma’s house.
According to the Penn State University Department of Agronomy, there are 8,000 species of weeds.
They reduce agricultural crop yields by competing for water, light, soil nutrients and space. They also serve as hosts for crop diseases and produce chemical substances that can be harmful to crops, animals and humans. Weed control efforts (e.g., fertilizer and pesticides) can cause significant annual financial losses.
Weeds are also nature’s way of covering soil that has become exposed by fires, floods or landslides. They protect the soil from erosion, replenish organic matter, restore soil life, and provide a habitat for insects and wildlife.
If you are one who likes to toss weeds into your compost bin (I don’t), that weeds have more lives than cats and may still survive. Use a compost thermometer to make sure the temperature generated by breaking down the plant material exceeds 145 degrees F.
Some weeds can cause health concerns. Rye grass and privet can cause respiratory problems. Stinging Nettle can cause a burning rash. Hogweed, poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac can cause itchiness. Ragweed can cause a rash or hay fever.
Preen Garden Weed Preventer, Spectracide, Scotts Weed Control and Ortho Weed B Gon are some well-known chemical weed killers. They’re effective, but I’ll stick to my organic options.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Bayer, the manufacturer of the herbicide Roundup, is facing 11,200 U.S. lawsuits claiming that glyphosate produces serious health risks for people and animals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that “glyphosate is not likely carcinogenic to humans.” However, in 2015 the World Health Organization classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
Sadly, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group tested popular beer and wine brands and found glyphosate in 19 out of 20 of them.
No!
How about a Roomba for weeds? Of course, we all saw that one coming. Visit FranklinRobotics.com.
Some say pulling weeds can be therapeutic. Those people are all welcome at our house where they can get all the therapy they want.
Schmidt is a Poway resident with over 40 years of gardening experience.
