WEED OF THE MONTH - 2008

January 2008 - A young chicory plant showing leaves used which can be boiled or used in salads.

January 2008 - The chicory plant produces an abundance of light blue daisy-like flowers.

February 2008 - Wireweed has become firmly established in this open area on the farm

February 2008 - Close up of wireweed stems showing small pink flowers

February 2008 - Wireweed is encroaching around a young tree seedling. Within 2 months the thin stems will have grown over the seedling

March 2008 - This thick mat of carpet weed looks like a well maintained lawn when viewed from a distance

March 2008 - Carpet weed is beginning to grow over this young gum seedling

March 2008 - Close up of the small waxy leaves and light pink flowers that are displayed in late summer

April 2008 - Nightshade plants can grow from 30 to 60 centimetres in height in warm moist locations

April 2008 - Close up of ripe fruit. Black fruits carry a large number of seed that are easily spread by birds and other small animals

May 2008 - Dense mallow vegetation can cause problems in the vegetable garden. The tiny seed produced is easily spread by implements, wind and water

The number and range of weeds continues to increase on the farm this year. I have not been cultivating the land in an attempt to increase the level of organic matter and vegetation cover on the soil. The weeds have relished this situation and helped by some good rains this summer they are now fighting amongst themselves in an attempt to control their patch.

I have been slashing parts of the farm where growth is excessive in order to maintain a more tidy environment, and to deter snakes from visiting!

January 2008 - Chicory (Chicorium Intybus)

This hardy and attractive plant is due to become one of my favourite weeds. It has been introduced to the farm via the vegetable garden and after it sets seed, should become well established on the farm.

Chicory grows wild in Europe and many cultivars have been selected for garden and medicinal use. Young leaves give a boost to salads adding a little bitterness and flavour to the mix. Chicory produces a deep tap root and is able to survive harsh conditions. Being such a tasty weed, I am happy to see some plants growing on the farm. Growing in the wrong place however, this plant can become a persistent weed.

February 2008 - Wireweed (Polygonum aviculare)

This fast growing creeper has thin stems that quickly cover open areas. Should plantings be in an area infested with wireweed, it will creep around and into the plant's canopy. Initially thin stems and foliage appear relatively harmless, but with summer rainfall wireweed will quickly develop into a thick mat of vegetation. Producing many suckers from a tap root, this weed is difficult to eradicate.

In order to control wireweed, annual crops will need to be cultivated using machinery such as a sturdy disc cultivator. Wireweed not only competes with crops for moisture and nutrients, but can easily become entangled in farm machinery causing the operator to waste time clearing stems from around machines.

I now have many infestations of wireweed on the farm and if the winter frost does not kill these plants, I may need to purchase a disc cultivator in order to turn these aggressive plants into compost!

March 2008 - Carpet Weed or Sea Heath (Frankenia pauciflora)

When it comes to weeds I need to take my hat off to this incredibly hardy survivor. As named, carpet weed forms a very thick mat of waxy stems and leaves that seem to find no barrier insurmountable. When growing near trees or objects, the weed simply travels up and over any obstacle. By removing light and moisture from any plant, carpet weed seems to win on every occasion.

Able to tolerate salty and extremely dry soil, this suckering creeper has dominated every other weed on the farm. Gum trees competing with carpetweed have shown only half the growth compared to trees in clear areas.

I have found carpet weed makes an excellent mulch layer when removed and placed around young plants, but it seems I will have a long - running war to remove this weed after the large windbreak trees are established.

April 2008 - Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)

This common and widespread weed appears during the warmer months producing small dark berries when ripe. If leaves are eaten in large quantities this plant will cause irritation of the digestive system of animals, but the condition is rarely fatal.

Nightshade can quickly shade young seedlings and also compete for moisture and nutrients, being a rapid grower in warm moist conditions. The biggest concern in the vegetable garden however, is its ability to act as a source of soil infection for tomatoes, capsicums and potatoes as nightshade is a member of this same group of plants.

Nightshade has a relatively shallow root system and this annual is easy to keep under control by hand weeding.

May 2008 - Mallow (Malva neglecta)

Mallows are now common weeds in southern areas of Australia having been introduced from Europe. A tenacious and difficult weed to extract from soil, mallows will grow into dense weeds capable of competing with most vegetable crops. Able to grow in poor soils this deep-rooted herb can be difficult to remove once established.

Small lilac to white flowers are produced in abundance and the resultant fine seed can spread a long distance.

Mallows should be weeded out when young as they will regenerate quickly from a tap root once established.