Japanese honeysuckle (at left) and chickweed
(with underground rhizomes such as
quack grass, crabgrass, goose grass, or
Johnson grass) or those with aboveground runners (such as Creeping Charlie
or cinquefoil). Dig when they are small
and seek out the roots and runners before
they reach out three, six, or twelve feet.
Dense and fibrous root systems: Some
perennial weeds—such as mugworts,
buttercups, and goldenrod from the field
(not the milder-mannered cultivar you
can buy)—form dense thickets of roots
underground. Dig out the whole thing.
Taproots: Dandelions and burdocks are
examples of roots that can reach several
feet downward. If you pull or dig them
and break off pieces, you’ll just produce
more.
Millions of seeds: Many annual weeds,
such as chickweed, produce millions of
seeds per plant. The young plants are easy
to hoe or pull out (and are edible). Just get
them early.
I DON’T WANT TO SOUND LIKE AN ADMONISHING
mother, nor Ben Franklin (he came up with “a stitch in time saves
nine” in the 1732 Poor Richard’s Almanac), but somebody needs
to tell every gardener: if you don’t get rid of some kinds of weeds
early, there will be consequences! In the spirit of our Get It Done
HOME issue, it’s time to prepare you to recognize weeds and make
them priorities on your must-do list, starting in early spring.
Weeding—which ones can’t wait?
Gardeners know we should get rid of weeds before they
multiply, but we all get busy, and it always looks like this job
can wait. The little plants look so innocent. Weeding can’t wait,
mostly. The trick is to know which weeding is urgent, and which
weeds won’t ruin your life if you get to them later. You can refer
to books and websites, or let the weeds teach you—even if you
never know their names. Look above and below ground at the
parts, so you can anticipate their naughty behaviors. Watch out
for weeds with these characteristics:
Runners or rhizomes: Many of the worst weeds are grasses
BY SALLY CUNNINGHAM
SALLY SAYS
Get a hoe
I have seen new
gardeners kneel
or squat for hours
pulling out small
weeds. A hoe can
handle a square
yard of small
weeds in three
minutes—just
stand up and hoe
off their heads.
Few seedlings
can survive a
beheading!
