Georgia Backyard Nature

War on Weeds!

How is your garden recovering from the harsh winter? I have lots of plants that look frayed and ragged, but the weeds are growing better than ever--and I'm not alone. I've spoken to several gardeners who are mystified at the abundance of weeds this year.  Virginia Creeper (above)  and Brambles (below) are running riot through the yard.

I'm not a fan of herbicides because of their effect on birds and insects and try to use them sparingly--only on the most noxious weeds.  They dying plant in the picture is Poison Ivy that was bombarded by herbicide more than once and still isn't totally dead.

I prefer the good old fashioned method of digging weeds out by their roots and mulching. In some cases, weed cloth and pre-emergent are used, too. However, this year with a major weed invasion, all weapons are on the table. 

I've cleared two big areas by digging up most weeds, putting down pre-emergent and a heavy layer of mulch, but had to liberally apply herbicide to Brambles and Virginia Creeper because nothing else seems to work.

Don't you wish our cultivated plants grew as well as the weeds do?

Dodgy Dog Fennel

 

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a very tall, feathery plant growing in the natural area around the lake. I hadn’t seen it before but soon learned it was an invasive weed called Dog Fennel. Now that I know what it is, I’ve noticed it growing along most roadways in the area. 

Dog fennel a good name because the thread-like leaves really resemble fennel tops. That’s the only similarity because this weed contains alkaloids that can cause liver damage if ingested. Livestock avoid it. I’ve read that it also has an awful odor that deters rodents and insects.

Dog Fennel is found in the eastern U.S. and can grow up to 6-8 feet high. The plants in the picture are a lot taller than the Cattails, probably about 8 feet high. It spreads rapidly by seeds, but can’t survive mowing so Dog Fennel doesn’t often invade lawns.

Now that Dog Fennel has a toehold around the lake, I can probably expect more next year. I’m on the fence about that. From far away, it’s a pretty plant and if it chases away rodents, that’s a plus. I just don’t want it growing so close that it smells up the back yard.

 

Spreading Spurge

 

This innocuous looking plant is a true garden pest call Spurge. That’s a strange name, but it fits because to me, Spreading + Scourge = Spurge. This low-lying weed pops up in spring and summer in sunny areas and forms dense mats that choke other plants and grass. It’s amazing how fast it spreads and it's everywhere--in grass, flower beds, and even  walkway cracks. I’ve been pulling Spurge up for weeks and it seems that every day, new plants appear.

I’m glad I wear gloves when gardening because the milky sap is an irritant and is even poisonous to some animals. Too bad because this is one plant I wouldn’t mind if the deer or squirrels decimated.

Crowding Cattails

 

The little pond the beaver created two years ago is now just a marsh. Lots of young trees are growing there, but most of the area is covered in Cattails. There were only a few last year, but now they are so thick, other plants are being crowded out.

 

Cattails are a common aquatic plant with long slender grass-like leaves which can grow up to 10 feet tall. The ones in the picture are about that big. In fall, the characteristic brown cylindrical seed heads appear on long stalks.

 

 

Depending on your point of view, Cattails can be visually appealing or a big nuisance. They make a great wildlife habitat, but the thick leaves also look like a haven for snakes and rodents. These plants are also very invasive. Grown from rhizomes, like iris, they spread alarmingly fast. Cattails can completely take over the shallow waters of a pond or lake.

 

Now the marsh has two fast spreading plants—Yellow Flag Iris and Cattails. But it looks like the Cattails are winning. In another year they’ll crowd everything else out. Maybe the beaver will return and use them for building materials.

Pesky Poison Ivy

 

Every gardener has to deal with Poison Ivy at some time. I’ve been lucky to have almost ten years without this noxious weed. Now there’s a small patch next to the patio.  Since contact with the Poison Ivy plant causes a terrible rash, extreme caution is needed in attacking this pest. Always wear long pants, long sleeves and gloves when working around this plant.

 

The bad news is that even after it’s dead, the agent that causes the rash, urushiol oil, stays active for one to five years. You can get a rash from touching things that have come in contact with this potent oil-- garden tools, clothing, and even pet fur.

 

Getting rid of this nuisance can be a challenge. I’ve read a lot about  eradication and there’s several choices—herbicides, digging it out at the roots (very risky because lots of urushiol is released) , and smothering it by covering the plants with something like black plastic, weed cloth, or newspapers.  Each has advantages and disadvantages.

 

I haven’t decided how to attack it yet, but I know I have to get up my courage and get rid of this albatross. And quickly, too, because I think there’s a Poison Sumac plant, which also causes a rash, in the same bed!! Applying a herbicide sounds like the easiest solution, but most sites warn it takes several applications. Unfortunately, neighborhood cats roam my yard and I’m concerned about using herbicides for that reason.

 

I’m still learning about Poison Ivy and Poison Sumac but I found a couple of  web sites that have some good information

http://www.poison-ivy.org/html/faq.htm

http://landscaping.about.com/od/poisonivyplants/Pictures_of_Poison_Ivy_Plants_How_to_Kill_Poison_Ivy_Plants.htm

Wish me luck—hopefully I won’t be posting pictures of a Poison Ivy rash!!