Other than the ubiquitous dandelion though, I'd have a hard time naming the myriad weeds in our garden.
So when the weekly BHG Garden Notes newsletter arrived in my email box this morning, offering several articles on lawn care, my eye (and my mouse) went straight to the Weed Identification Guide!
This consists of 34 slides, with photographs and information about the weeds and as I browsed through, I had several "Aha!" moments as I was finally able to identify some weeds that have been plaguing our garden.
The first "Aha!" came when I got to slide 4 -- the bindweed. It's a vine with arrow head shaped leaves and we've got it in the front border. I actually quite like it as it's twining around one of our lanterns and looks rather attractive. I'm sure eventually I'll rip it out, but I think I'll leave it for now. It doesn't seem to be bothering anything.
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| Click Photo to go to Weed Identification Guide |
Another "Aha!" moment came when I got to slide number 6 -- the Nutsedge. This plant, or at least something that looks very like it, is relentless in its assault on our flowerbeds and borders. I spend more time pulling those things out of the ground than any other garden chore.
There are several weeds listed that we don't appear to have, but we do have chickweed. I've been trying to pick it out of the lawn piece by piece and I was dismayed to learn that each plant can produce 15,000+ seeds :-(
Also, not in the slide show, but I thought I'd mention it here -- now I know why Milkweed is called Milkweed. I made the mistake of not cutting off the seed heads before they matured last year and I swear we have at least a zillion milkweed seedlings coming up -- including a half a zillion in the lawn itself! I guess I can call that a lesson learned....
Anyway, now it's your turn -- comment below and tell me about your nemesis -- the weed(s) you have most problem with in your garden.
Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.
7 comments:
Hi, Jayne ~ I've just discovered your lovely blog and I'm now following ~ so nice to meet you!
Best,
Anne ♥♥
(If you can, check out my post "One Woman's Weeds...")
Hi Anne
I'm so glad you found my blog -- and introduced me to yours as well. It seems we have very similar interests in gardening, art and kitties. I'm following your blog now too :-)
A weed which (I think) is called pepper vine is my most hated nemesis. It comes up everywhere in my yard and I am in a lifetime war against it. There are others as well - henbit, crane's bill, and the undauntable nutsedge - but pepper vine causes me the most grief.
But one person's weed is another person's wildflower. Milkweeds, for example, can have beautiful flowers, and their seed pods are filled with silky fibers. If you'd like to see some of the native plants in central Texas, many of which grow in Houston as well, just stop by my blog.
Jayne, You will want to pull the bindweed soon. It will require repeat pulling out until it finally gives up.
I have a patch of milkweed that I've been deadheading so it doesn't take over the neighborhood. This is either the third or fourth year of it, and I am amazed at how far and wide it is coming up from the roots. I have been pulling it up, and the stems I've pulled don't seem to be coming up again. I hope they continue to stay pulled.
Happy spring!
Hi Sue -- you're right. I took another look at the bindweed today and realized there was a lot more of it than just the little tendrils around the shepherd's crook that the lantern hangs from. It was smothering a shrub, so I ripped it out today and will continue to do so wherever I see it.
I remember walking to elementary school, and seeing a fence covered in blooming bindweed, thinking the flowers were pretty. LOL
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