WEED OF THE MONTH - 2007

June 2007 - Canola

July 2007 - This attractive looking field is fully infested with soursob

July 2007 - Close up of the Soursob flowers

August 2007 - Multitude of Gazania coloured flowers from white to dark red

August 2007 - Attractive Gazania daisy flowers

August 2007 - Close up of the Gazania flowers

Septermber 2007 - This patch on the farm has been taken over by capeweeds. Capeweed grows rapidly in low fertility soil during spring

Septermber 2007 - Close up of the attractive capeweed flowers

October 2007 - Ryegrass is an attractive fast growing weed in spring

November 2007 - Veldt grass showing the purple tinge on its infloresence

November 2007 - Close up of the Veldt grass

December 2007 - A clump of lucerne in flower makes an attractive site

December 2007 - Close up of the lucerne leaves and flowers. The flowers attract bees to the farm

December 2007 - These young lucerne plants will soon become established and seedlings will spread throughout the farm

A weed is any plant growing where it is not wanted. Many flowers in the gardens and farms are also weeds when their growth interferes with the crop. Most flowers and crops have close cousins that are wild weeds. We may even say that crops and flowers are domesticated weeds. So almost any plant can become a weed.

Weeds At My Hobby Farm

Most weeds on my hobby farm are quite tame when compared to the ones I grew up with. I have actually become fond of these weeds, as they are providing me with free organic matter for mulching around the young windbreak trees. They are also keeping the soil cool and preventing soil from blowing away.This photo gallery displays the various weeds found at the hobby farm over the months ....

June 2007 - Canola

Canola used for oil production. It has blown in the wind and makes a pretty sight on the farm. Canola flowers attract bees, insects and many birds. The vegetation will be used as a mulch around young plantings.

July 2007 - Soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae)

Soursob gets it's name due to the sour acidic taste of the leaves and stems. This weed is a most attractive weed that flowers in winter and spring and is capable of infesting large areas of farms. The weed survives on soil with low fertility and because it is spread by producing many small bulbs from an underground stem, cultivation of infested soil will only spread the weed further. The weed can cause health problems to farm animals if eaten in large amounts.

The weed cannot tolerate very fertile soil and one way to control infestations is to add lots of fertilizer to the area. The vegetation dies down over the warm summer months and reappears in late autumn.

August 2007 - Gazania

The gazania is a very attractive perennial daisy originating from South Africa. It forms clumps of greyish foliage and produces attractive daisy flowers. The plants produce large quantities of seed that are readily spread by wind. Plants are very tough and eventually form a dense mat of vegetation, able to compete with crops for moisture and light. Infested fields produce a multitude of coloured flowers from white to dark red.

Many forms of gazania are propagated in nurseries as onarmentals and some of these plants have escaped into farmland. I have some plants on the property and they are kept under control when the grass is cut using a slasher.

September 2007 - Capeweed

Capeweed has made a lot of growth during spring and is now taking over much of the farm. This annual fleshy leaved plant produces attractive daisy flowers producing substantial amounts of pollen. As a result capeweed is popular with bee keepers. Stock enjoy eating capeweed, but it can taint the flavour of cow's milk and also poison animals in some circumstances. Capeweed will compete with pastures and crops and under these circumstances needs to be controlled.

October 2007 - Annual Ryegrass (Lolium Rigidum)

This glossy weed gives the farm a fresh bright appearance during spring. Types of ryegrass are found in some lawns, and ryegrass is also important constituent of pastures when used with clovers. The plant grows quickly after spring rains and its pollen is able to cause discomfort in sufferers of asthma. Ryegrass is able to grow in poor soils and can quickly become an established weed due to its ability to produce an abundance of seed. Ryegrass can cause toxicity to farm animals in some cases and also when it is to be cut and used as hay in wet conditions.

November 2007 - Veldt Grass (Ehrharta Longiflora)

Clumps of veldt grass appear in late spring and the young foliage appears similar to that of cultivated oats. Seed heads and leaves show a purple coloration as they mature and this native of South Africa is able to produce an abundance of vegetation in a short time. I have found this weed to be useful as a source of mulch to be used in the vegetable garden. The grass shown is a close relative of the perennial veldt grass, a more serious problem in areas where native vegetation is being nurtured.

December 2007 - Lucerne or Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

This attractive weed was not present on the farm, but has been introduced due to many of its outstanding qualities. As an erect perennial it makes excellent mulch as well as animal feed. Once established the deep root system enables the plant to survive dry times and the plant will self seed. Lucerne can be difficult to remove from crops, but it is a small price to pay for a hardy nitrogen fixing legume adding nitrogen and much needed organic matter to the soil. Lucerne can cause some problems to stock if fed in large amounts.