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In this issue…
1. African Rue
2. Russian Thistle
3. Dandelions
4. Is There Help?
5. Quick Facts
Considered one of the most dreaded weeds in our area. This perennial weed is bright green with pretty white five-petal flowers. The stems are fleshy and when crunched, have a bitter, acrid taste and a disagreeable odor. Leaves are alternate, smooth and divided into linear segments. On the surface, it is a relatively small plant, growing only a foot tall when fully mature. But occupies a very large volume below ground. The roots can easily be more than 13 feet deep! The plant contains at least four poisonous alkaloids that are toxic to cattle, sheep and horses. The seeds and fruit of the plant are the most toxic.
More commonly known as the tumbleweed, it is the symbol of the American West. Its branching stems form a loose globe sometimes 4 feet in diameter. Its long thin spine-tipped leaves and spiny bracts give it a bristly appearance. When young and green, it can be eaten by cattle, but when it matures, it’s prickly like cactus. At maturity it breaks off at the base and because it’s rounded, it tumbles in the wind. The tumbling serves to spread its seeds, up to 250,000 per weed. A recent study has revealed that tumbling tumbleweeds soak up depleted uranium from contaminated soils at weapons testing grounds.
Weed? That is a matter of opinion. It ranks among America’s most hated plants and people will do almost anything to get rid of them. While kids think that making a wish while blowing the “puffballs” is a neat thing to do, they don’t know that they are actually spreading the seeds to neighboring lawns and causing more dandelions to grow. But what most people aren’t aware of is that Dandelions have been used for medicinal purposes for years. The leaves of Dandelions contain high amounts of Vitamins A, B complex and C, as well as calcium, iron and many other trace elements. They also help reduce blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. The roots are also extremely good for you. They are used as a liver tonic, a heart tonic, an immune booster and a source of potassium. The flowers, in addition to being tasty in tea, act as a heart tonic and pain reliever. Beware though, if you are using herbicide or pesticide on your lawn or garden, you shouldn’t eat anything out of your yard at all as it will contain poisons.
There is hope, however, if you have problems with weeds. We offer different types of solutions. A Pre-emergence herbicide application in lawns is guaranteed to prevent seeds from germinating for 90 days. When applied to non-lawn areas, the guarantee is 6 months, however up to 12 months control is often achieved when conditions are right. Post-emergence in lawns is often done with a backpack sprayer and is targeted to areas with broadleaf weeds. Talk to your technician with any concerns you may have and together we can figure out the best strategy for your particular situation. For more information see About Weed Control.
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