weed hunter cards - kitchen garden...weed hunter cards identifying characteristics this is a...

Garden Resource

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation © 2013

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Weed Hunter Cards

Identifying characteristicsThis is a grass-like perennial with long, fleshy, triangular grass-like leaves that can grow to as long as 30–50 cm. It has white, bell-like flowers that grow in bunches off a triangular stem in the spring. The leaves die back every year, but the onion-like bulb will stay viable in the ground for many years. The leaves and bulb have a garlicky or onion scent; flowers.

Interesting facts u All parts of this plant are edible: the white

bulbs can be pickled and the green leaves can be used like chives or green onions; the flowers can be used fresh in salads. u The juice of onion weed is said to deter moths,

though this is not scientifically proven.

Management and removalThe best organic solution is to remove onion weed by hand. Dig it up gently with a fork to get under the roots and remove the entire bulb, as pieces left in the ground will create new plants (onion weed reproduces by both division and seed). When weeding, make sure to dispose of any roots from the bulbs in the normal rubbish to avoid spreading the weed further through your composting system. This weed spreads quickly and can take some time to eradicate.

Onion Weed (Allium triquetrum), also called Angled Onion

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Identifying characteristicsThis bushy, herbaceous annual is found in temperate to tropical regions and can grow up to 80 cm high. The stems are green, but can turn purple as the plant ages, so you may find a mix of green and purple shades. It has long, oval-shaped, dark green leaves, with undulating edges. The flowers are white, star-shaped with five points and have yellow centres. Black nightshade berries are green at first, darkening to a very dark, almost black colour with age. Each fruit can contain up to 35 seeds.

Interesting facts u Black nightshade seeds can stay dormant

in the soil for more than 40 years waiting for the right conditions! u This plant has food and medicinal uses around

the world, but some studies show that high levels of consumption can lead to poisoning, so it is not recommended to eat.

Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum), also called Blackberry Nightshade

Management and removalThe plant can become invasive and can attract nematodes, viruses and fungi that can be detrimental to the soil and the plants growing it in, especially those of the Solanaceae family such as tomatoes. Remove any seedlings as soon as they appear and are identified. Hand removal is the most effective form of organic management for this weed. As flowering and seed/fruit formation begins early in summer, spring removal of the seedlings is highly recommended. The plant can be composted if it has not flowered; otherwise destroy it or add it to the regular rubbish to avoid spreading the seed further afield.

Image sources: www.aphotoflora.com , en.wikipedia.org

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Identifying characteristicsOxalis has a clover-like, three-part, dark green leaf. It grows close to the ground and spreads quickly through a complex underground structure of bulbs. It produces small yellow flowers that tend to grow in clusters of 3–15 per stem.

Management and removalOxalis requires constant and vigilant weeding by hand, making sure to remove as many bulblets as possible from the soil. If nothing else exists in the bed or other plants can be moved or sacrificed, oxalis can be eradicated by sheet mulching with a very thick layer of cardboard or newspaper to deprive the soil – and therefore the oxalis seeds and bulbs – of light, and eventually the plants will die off.

Oxalis (Oxalis pes-capre), also called Soursob, Soursop and Yellow-flowered Oxalis

Image sources: www.dcnature.com, www.daamaaextweb.gnb.ca

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Identifying characteristicsChickweed is a cool-season annual shrub with dark green, oval-shaped leaves that have pointed tips. It produces oval-shaped, hairy seed pods at the same time as its white flowers of five petals – note the notch in the petals is so deep that each petal looks like two, so the flower can appear to have ten petals. The stem has a line of fine hairs along one side only, which will change sides at each node or leaf – this one-sided hairiness is the best way to identify this genus of chickweed from others in the same family.

Interesting facts u Chickweed produces flowers and sets seed at the

same time rather that flowering then seeding. u The leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of

chickweed are all edible and highly nutritious, with high levels of vitamins C and A as well as many minerals. u Chickweed has also been used to make

ointments and salves to aid in wound healing. u The plant can also serve as a mild diuretic and

is considered cleansing for the urinary tract.

Chickweed (Stellaria media), also called Mouse-ear Chickweed

Management and removalIf the chickweed is not in a troublesome spot in the garden, leave it and treat it as you would any other vegetable in the garden – USE IT! If you do need to remove it, be aware that it spreads by both seed and stems that root at the nodes, so when pulling up, make sure you get the whole plant. Ideally you would remove the plant before it flowers/sets seed to avoid spreading the seeds while removing it.

Image sources: www.capel.verygreen.co.uk, www.cas.vanderbilt.edu

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Identifying characteristicsDandelion is biennial (two-year lifecycle), but it can be perennial in the right conditions. The leaves and stems, when cut, exude a milky white sap. The hairless leaves grow with backward-pointing teeth, flat to the ground from a single strong tap root. A single yellow flower grows on a long stem from the centre of the plant. When petals are lost, the flower head becomes a fluffy ball of seeds, from which the seeds are blown and carried by the wind.

Interesting facts u Dandelion means ‘teeth of the lion’, which refers to the

tooth-like petals. u Young dandelion leaves are edible raw, so are good in salads,

and can also be cooked. Dandelion roots can be dried, ground up and used as a coffee substitute. u Dandelions are ‘dynamic accumulators’, which means

their deep tap roots ‘mine’ nutrients from deep in the earth, storing them in their roots and leaves, so when the plant dies those nutrients are released into the top soil for the other plants to use. u Dandelions tend to prefer a higher pH level (a more ‘basic’

soil), so when present dandelions are a good indication of basic soil.

Management and removalLeave dandelions if you can, in order to eat the leaves and take advantage of the benefits they bring to your soil. Organic removal of dandelions can be difficult, but if you have to remove them, there are two possible manual methods:

u Cut the top off and dig around the base to loosen the taproot. Grab the root as securely as possible and give a firm tug. If the root doesn’t give, continue to dig down around the root, wiggling it to loosen it, and continue to trying to tug it out gently. The tap root can be thick, but it can also easily break, and any root left in the soil will regrow. u Cut the top off the plant and pour boiling water slowly onto its

centre – this will burn and kill it. To be sure to reach all the way to the bottom of the tap root, you could remove some of the root by the previous method and follow that by pouring boiling water into the hole. Very strong vinegar (white vinegar boiled down to reduce the water content) painted or carefully sprayed on the flowers and leaves of the plant can also be somewhat effective.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Image sources: wioiv.blogspot.com, www.bioinfo.org, commons.wikipedia.org

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Identifying characteristicsThistles are annual or biennial plants typically found in disturbed or poor soils, often found along the roadside or on rocky hillsides. They are generally of a whitish-grey, woolly appearance, with purple flower heads emerging from a spiny/spiky casing. The stemless variety can also produce white flowers. The Scotch, Illyrian and stemless thistles all have similar colour, but the stemless remains closer to the ground while the others can get very tall. Their spiky nature makes them harmful, so wear gloves when trying to remove them. The flowering times do differ between the three main varieties: Scotch flowers through August and December, Illyrian flowers from December to February and the stemless variety flowers between October and December.

Interesting facts u Globe artichokes are a member of the thistle family. u Thistle seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to

eight years. u The juice of this plant has been used for centuries

in medicinal ways, including curing ulcers and reducing tumours!

Management and removalUnless in great numbers, thistles can be removed using a hoe or mattock to chop away the deep tap root. Monitor the area and quickly remove any regrowth that can occur from parts of the tap root left in the ground.

Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium); Illyrian Thistle (Onopordum Illyricum); Stemless Thistle (Onopordum acaulon); Taurian thistle (Onopordum tauricum, Victoria only)

Image sources: sco.wikipedia.org, www.luontoportii.com

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Identifying characteristicsAll dock species tend to look very similar, especially at the seedling stages, but telling them all apart is not as important as identifying the plant as dock, so that it can be managed. These two species of dock can grow as tall as 1.2 meters if left untouched. The plants will pop up in autumn and grow rosettes close to the ground over winter. The flowering stem will grow through spring and seeds will come to maturity in the late summer, when they will drop to the ground or be carried to other locations by birds. Dock is a perennial plant, so the flowering stem will die off after dropping seeds in summer, and will over-winter as a rosette, conserving energy and developing stronger roots for the next year’s reproduction. It is also a deep tap-rooting plant and can reproduce from pieces of root left in the ground or broken off during digging or soil cultivation.

Dock or Curled Dock (Rumex crispus); Broad-leaved Dock (Rumix obtusifolius)

Interesting facts u Dock leaves are edible, with a slightly bitter taste that goes well in salads, but they do contain

oxalic acid, so limited amounts are recommended. u Before electricity and proper refrigeration, dock leaves were used to wrap and preserve butter,

so it was called ‘butter dock’. u Dock leaves can be used to remedy the sting of a nettle and, conveniently, they often grow in

similar areas.

Management and removalHand removal can be effective on younger dock seedlings, but the older ones will have deeply established tap roots that will regrow from pieces left in the ground after the top is removed. Therefore, after the initial removal, watch for young seedlings and remove them immediately; this will weaken the plant and eventually it will die. The best way to manage the weed is to prevent it from establishing at all, by preventing waterlogging in the garden and removing plants prior to flowering and going to seed. The best time to look for and remove the plant is in autumn and winter in its rosette stage.

Image source: www.survivalogic.com

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Identifying characteristicsThis annual herbaceous plant grows flat to the ground through autumn and summer. It can grow up to 2 metres long with many smaller branches coming off the larger stem. The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of a stem and each group contains three to eight opposite leaflet pairs. The small yellow flowers each have five petals. They present throughout summer and each flower lasts only for one or two days before dying off. The fruit of the caltrop are spiky burrs that are renowned for attaching themselves to shoes, socks and trousers, as they are designed to catch on the feathers and fur of passing animals to be transported to their next location. Each fruit can contain up to 20 seeds.

Interesting facts u A productive caltrop plant can produce up to

20,000 seeds in its one-year life span. u Seeds can stay viable for up to five years when

buried in the soil. u Caltrop is very drought-tolerant due to its

extensive root system.

Management and removalRemove this weed before it goes to flower in summer – just after it appears and before it can spread and produce fruit is best, if possible. Small amounts can be hand weeded quite easily, but wear gloves – the fruits can be quite painful to fingers! With larger caltrops, you can cut the plant from its central tap root and carefully gather the plant up, taking it to the general rubbish for disposal. Do not add it to the compost if it has any fruits or flowers, or it will spread to the rest of the garden. Once a spot is cleared of caltrop, you can use a piece of foam, such as a camping mat or similar, to collect any seed or fruit that might have fallen on the ground. Just lay the mat on the ground with a bit of weight on top, then carefully lift the mat up, along with the burrs, and take it to the bin where you can scrape the seeds off and reuse the mat. Mulch the area heavily after it has been cleared to discourage any leftover seeds from germinating, but keep an eye out because they are great survivors!

Caltrop (Tribulus terrestris), also called Cat Head or Bindi

Image source: www.asergeev.com, www.fleurs-de-france.eu

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Identifying characteristicsAn annual plant and extremely hardy, purslane grows as a thick, mat-like ground cover with succulent stems, often with a red tinge. The oval, succulent leaves are about 1–3 cm long and develop in clusters at the stem nodes. Small yellow flowers set at the nodes and ends of the stems. Seed capsules are small, peaked cones, full of tiny black seeds the size of fine sand. Each plant can produce thousands of seeds, so removal before it has gone to flower and seed is vital to reduce spread, if that is the goal.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

Interesting facts u Purslane can grow in almost any climate and soil, is found in Australia from the desert to the

coast and was a valuable source of food for Indigenous people. u The stems, leaves and buds of purslane are all edible. The leaves taste slightly sour, but are quite

mild. Five sprigs (about 10 cm each) can provide 550 mg of calcium, plus a good portion of your daily need of Vitamins A and C, iron, potassium and magnesium. It was also discovered in the 1980s that purslane leaves are a source of omega-3 fatty acids! u Purslane makes a good ground cover to grow under crops like corn, as its dense, matting nature

retains moisture well and blocks out other weeds. u The seeds can stay viable in the soil for up to seven years waiting for the right conditions.

Management and removalIf you have the space, leave purslane in and just control the spread by removing parts of the plant that you don’t want there. Don’t forget to use the parts you remove in salads and other dishes to benefit from all the great nutrients the plant offers! Hand weeding and mulching are the best ways to control this plant.

Image source: www.onlyfoods.net, en.wikipedia.org

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Identifying characteristicsMallow is a low-growing annual or biennial weed with a deep tap root that it uses to ‘mine’ nutrients and water from deeper in the soil. Its leaves look like rounded lovehearts with serrated edges. Many long stems grow from one central root stem, often sagging to the ground due to weight of the larger leaves. Flowers appear early in summer through to autumn. The flowers can be white, pink or purple and have five petals.

Interesting facts u Mallow is edible; nutritious and delicious! The

ancient Romans considered it a delicacy and even today several mallow species are widely eaten throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa. u Like okra or marshmallow, mallow can be used

as a thickening agent in cooked dishes.

Mallow (Malva parviflora)

Management and removalMallow can only spread by seed, so be sure to remove it in winter and spring before it begins to flower. Manual removal prior to flowering or seed pod production is the best way to weaken this plant, but it can be challenging to eradicate.

Image source: www.wildflowersofthewestvillage.com

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Identifying characteristicsPrickly lettuce is an annual or biennial that can grow to as high as two metres. Its leaves look similar to dandelion leaves, but this plant grows taller and the leaves and stem are prickly. When the leaves or stem are broken a milky substance oozes from the break. The flowers are yellow with a dark blue stripe on the underside of the petals.

Interesting facts u The young leaves of prickly lettuce can be

eaten before their prickles have grown, but after becoming prickly they is not a very palatable option. u The seeds can remain viable in the soil for as

long as six years.

Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola)

Management and removalPrickly lettuce spreads by seed through water and wind, and via muddy tyres and shoes, so it is best to remove it prior to its flowering and going to seed, which happens at the end of summer and early autumn. It can be managed quite well in a standard garden by hand pulling seedlings before they flower, but wear gloves so you don’t get poked by the prickly leaves and stem. These plants form a strong tap root, so get as much of the root out as possible by digging down a bit to loosen the root before pulling. This will minimise grow-back.

Image source: www.nikos-manitarielassonas.blogspot.com

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Identifying characteristicsWhite clover is a very common weed found in turf or lawns and is usually a sign that the soil is low in nitrogen. Clover leaves have three leaflets, with one leaf per thin stem growing from a central root system. Each leaf has a circular white marking across the base of each leaflet, forming a complete circle around the stem. The stems creep along the ground and root at the joints in the stem (the nodes), forming large clumps. Clover flowers are usually white, sometimes slightly pinkish, and form in heads on the end of thin stems.

Clover (Trifolium repens), also called White Flower Clover

Interesting facts u Clover is a ‘nitrogen fixing plant’, which means it can produce its own nitrogen from the air

and requires very low nitrogen in the soil. u Some people actually plant the pink variety of clover along with their grass seed to reduce

the amount of nitrogen fertiliser required to keep their lawn healthy, because the clover adds nitrogen to the soil.

Management and removalClover does not have a deep root system and is easily managed by hand pulling and mulching. As clover breaks down in the soil it will release all its stored nitrogen, so mulching over it to deprive it of light so it dies and feeds the soil is a useful option.

Image source: www.ppl.purdue.edu

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Identifying characteristicsCleavers is a herbaceous annual. A bright green plant, it can grow up to a metre high and form dense mats of foliage. The lance-shaped leaves are narrow and grow in whorls, that is 5–9 leaves emerge from a single node on the stem. The stem itself is thin and quadrangular, i.e. if you cut the stem, its cross section is square. The tiny flowers are white and have four petals. The stems and edges of the leaves are covered with tiny hooks that grab onto other plants and animals, as well as fences. The seeds are also covered with hooks, and each plant may produce up to 1000 brown-grey seeds.

Cleavers is widespread but is most likely to be found in temperate climates in fertile and moist areas.

Cleavers (Gallium aparine)

Interesting facts u To ‘cleave’ is to hold on to something.

The tiny hooks on cleavers actually make it feel sticky. u Purslane makes a good ground cover

to grow under crops like corn, as its dense, matting nature retains moisture well and blocks out other weeds. u The seeds can stay viable in the soil

for up to seven years waiting for the right conditions.

Management and removalCleavers can be removed by hand quite easily but it’s best to do so when the plants are small. The life cycle of the plant is only about eight weeks, so removing it before it has started to set seed will help stop the weed spreading to other parts of your garden.

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Identifying informationCapeweed is an annual plant. It forms a dense mat and chokes out other plants underneath and around it. In pasture, capeweed can grow up to 80 cm across and 30 cm high. In a school or home garden a large capeweed could be 20–30 cm across.

Capeweed has a long taproot and a rosette of grey-green leaves that are deeply lobed. The leaves range from 5–25 cm long and their underside is pale to white and feels soft and downy.

Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula)

The capeweed ‘daisy’ can grow up to 2 cm wide and is actually made up of many florets (small flowers). The outer flowers or ray florets (the ‘petals’) have a yellow upper-side (sometimes with a dark purple to brown base) and a grey-green to purplish-green underside. If you look very closely, the inner dark circle or ‘eye’ is made up of many tiny dark florets.

Capeweed germinates from autumn and dies off over summer. It’s very common in temperate areas where land has been disturbed. It can indicate soil that lacks calcium and magnesium.

Interesting facts u Capeweed’s name reflects its origin in the Cape Province of South Africa. Other names include

cape daisy, cape dandelion or African marigold. u Grazing animals can eat capeweed, but large quantities can cause problems. Chickens love it.

Removal and managementThe best way to remove capeweed is to use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the long taproot and then pull it out by hand, bringing as much of the root structure as you can. You will need to regularly check and remove capeweed, but after it is brought under control it is manageable.

Chipping the capeweed out and leaving the taproot in the ground will result in more capeweed growing.

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Identifying characteristicsYoung shepherd’s purse forms a rosette 10–20 cm wide with long lobed leaves. It can be mistaken for a dandelion, but unlike a dandelion the points on the leaves face outward, away from the rosette, and it has no milky sap.

When it matures, shepherd’s purse sends up a flower stem with a cluster of tiny white four-petalled flowers at the end. The stem may be up to 90 cm long, but is more commonly around 20 cm long.

The plant’s name comes from the seed pods, which are said to resemble the bag a shepherd carried – they are flat, brown and heart-shaped, with a line up the centre.

Shepherd’s purse is very widespread and often found in parks, ovals and grassy areas. It is a member of the mustard family.

Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastroris)

Interesting facts u Shepherd’s purse is used to stop internal and external bleeding, and in traditional Chinese

medicine to improve blurry vision. u The leaves and pods are a delicious peppery addition to salads in spring, and they’re one of

the earliest edibles to appear after winter.

Removal and managementLike other tap-rooted weeds, the best way to remove shepherd’s purse is to loosen the soil gently with a garden fork and carefully remove the plant and as much of the root mass as possible.

As the seeds are sticky when mature, wash your equipment carefully after use and take care not to catch seeds on your clothes – they are sticky enough to catch tiny insects so be careful!

Image source: www.geograph.org.uk

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Identifying characteristicsStinging nettle is a herbaceous perennial (it dies down over winter) from the northern hemisphere. It grows straight up, to between 120 and150 cm tall, and grows in clumps in many cases, spreading via underground rhizomes. The leaves are arranged oppositely along the stems, and are egg-shaped with serrated or toothed edges. Young leaves have short hairs and longer ‘stinging’ hairs on the upper leaf surfaces. Older leaves are mostly hairless, except for the long stinging hairs on the lower leaf surface.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica urens or Urtica dioica), also called Common Nettle

Interesting facts u If nettles are growing in your garden it is a good sign that the soil is high in nutrients, and most

especially phosphorus. u Nettles are edible and taste similar to spinach, but you should only use the young, tender net-

tles, and cook them well to remove the toxins. They can also be dried for nutrient-rich teas. u Nettle makes a good fertiliser tea for the garden, but make sure you dilute it before use. u If you are stung by nettles you may find your skin comes up in red welts that sting and hurt – it

is said that rubbing dock leaves on the affected area can remove the pain.

Management and removalThe best organic solution for nettles is to remove them by hand, as they tend to pull out easily. You will need to wear gloves, and long, thick sleeves are essential. Push the top of the plant over so you aren’t brushing the leaves unnecessarily, firmly grip the base of the plant, then pull it out. Better still, rake them out when they are young using a hoe.

Image source: www.merioneth48.blogspot.com

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Identifying characteristicsCouch grass is a low-growing perennial grass with fine leaves about 3 mm wide and 5 cm long. It spreads via runners along or under the ground, or even via pieces of runner that have been discarded. It also spreads by seed. The leaves are a grey-green colour.

Couch Grass (Elymus repens), also called Bermuda Grass or Florida Grass

Interesting facts u Couch grass is an Australian native and is often planted for lawns. u It can escape easily, invading areas such as garden beds, and is often considered an invasive weed.

Management and removalCouch grass is difficult to remove once established. Hoeing shallowly to expose the rhizomes to the air may result in them dying after a few days, but any pieces still left in the soil will continue to grow. A better way is pulling the grass out by hand, working your way along the runners between clumps, taking care to remove all the pieces. Alternatively, try smothering them. Dig a trench around the affected area, making sure you cut through any runners. Cover the area with a thick layer of newspaper, followed by a thick layer of straw mulch. Leave this for 4–5 months, by which time the mulch should have rotted and the couch grass died. Dig over before going ahead with your garden bed.

Image source: www.missouribotanicalgarden.org

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