June 02, 2011|By Laurie Casey, Special to Tribune Newspapers
Weeds are popping up everywhere. Some people tear out, smother or spray every last one. Others let them be part of the scenery. Some resourceful folks, such as diet guru Dr. Oz, eat edible weeds like purslane (Portulaca oleracea). Still others, like Doris Taylor, plant clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum, find weeding to be meditative. "I like to just zone out and pick," said Taylor.
While weed-picking can be relaxing, there's a need for efficiency. Pull one innocent plant, and next month you're yanking out a fresh crop.
"Seeds lie dormant for years until conditions are right for germinating, usually when the soil is disturbed," Taylor said. "When you know the annuals from the perennials and biennials, you can choose the best treatments."
Remove flower stalks on annual weeds, such as bedstraw (Galium aparine). Pull creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) and other perennials, but disturb the soil as little as possible. Dig out perennials with deep root systems, such as dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and violet (Viola pratincola).
Other weeds, known as biennials, flower every other year, such as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Cut flower stalks, or pull plants out by the base of stalks before blooming.
As a last resort, spot treat with appropriately labeled herbicides. After weeding, cover exposed soil with organic mulch or compost.
For free weeding advice, contact The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic at plantclinic@mortonarb.org, call 630-719-2424, or visit mortonarb.org/tree-plant-advice. Casey is a staff writer at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.