Weeds To Watch
The garden and orchard at Bobcat Ridge are chock full of delicious fruits, veggies, herbs, legumes, and - you guessed it - weeds. Try as you might, these suckers just keep coming back, no matter how frequently you pluck, pick, and dig them out. Some weeds are more invasive than others and have to be literally suffocated before being added to the compost pile. Speaking of compost, there's no better way to relieve stress/get an arm workout/kickstart the composting process than hacking that the compost pile with a machete. Don't knock it till you try it!
Though there are many types of weeds here, the following have recieved particular attention from yours truly during the past couple weeks.
1. Purslane - Purslane is extremely invasive, but it's also delicious. This succulent-like weed grows shallow roots, but its branches spread far and wide. Purslane sells for a pretty penny, and adds a yummy crunch to salads (try it with avocado!), so we leave most of it be. However, if you notice it growing in the planting beds, you know what to do! Be especially mindful of areas with freshly planted seeds that have Purslane growing nearby. We've been working hard to keep the new carrot areas Purslane seedling free, an arduous task at best.
Okay!
Not okay...
2. Bermuda Grass - This stuff spreads like wildfire and digs ultra deep roots. In large clumps, it looks like a zillion tiny shoots of grass, but try to pick one and you'll find that it's attached to a long earthworm-looking vine. Bermuda Grass seeds are easily airborne, which is why you'll find it all over the place here. Unlike Purslane, you'll probably need some tools to get to the 'root' of the problem. We used a hoe for individual roots and a shovel to dig up large patches. Store the grass in a plastic bag and seal it shut until it is sufficiently dead. Adding it to the compost pile prematurely will just mean even more Bermuda Grass for WWOOFers to come.
3. Morning Glory - With such an innocent name and harmless looking flower, you'd never guess that Morning Glory was no good for the garden. However, that dainty looking white flower will produce even more MG if not taken care of. When the flower shrivels up, its seeds spread with the wind. Plus, even the littlest bit of leftover root will sprout right back up.
-- Sienna
