In case you missed it, we hardly had any April showers, but May seems to be making up for it. With plenty of rain and warmer temperatures, we are enjoying a growth spurt in our lawns and a frenzy of weeds.
It is a great time to remove those “weeds.” The definition of a weed is anything growing where you don’t want. In addition to conventional weeds, we could include the butterfly bush in the corner of the yard (an invasive species) or volunteer trees (which will only get more expensive to remove as they get bigger).
There are edible weeds that you might want to add to your dinner plate instead of the compost pile; a few of these are dandelions, henbit, purslane and garlic mustard. They are delicious when leaves are young and tender – they are packed with vitamins, making them a very nutritious addition to soup or salad.
Obviously, the usual culprits are those weeds that invade our flower and vegetable beds and lawns. Most of us are concerned with weeds making an unsightly appearance in our garden spaces. However, many weeds are invasive species and can be harmful to the environment. They overtake habitats, vigorously replacing and leaving no room for native plants that feed our wildlife. English ivy climbing trees is a prime example.
For conventional ground-based weed removal, my favorite tool is a fork. Insert the stout tines under the weeds and tip them back to loosen the soil underneath and pull the weeds right out. This technique usually ensures that you will get most of the root with the weed.
Annual weeds like sticky willy or shiny geranium that have not yet gone to seed can be piled back onto the surface of the soil for the worms to feast upon and enrich your soil. Perennial weeds like dandelion or buttercups should be disposed of in a yard waste toter if you want to make absolutely sure they won’t become weed zombies in your compost pile (coming back to life to invade your garden with their “still alive parts”).
Some plants (even the ones you want to keep) can be toxic to livestock, pets and children. Buttercups should never be eaten. Unfortunately, our area has large quantities of poison hemlock. Ingestion results in suppressed respiratory function, which can cause permanent kidney damage or even death. There is no known antidote, and the stems are deadly for up to three years after the plant has died. Removal of this weed is required on public byways (though not on private property) due to its extreme toxicity.
Care should be taken when working in the garden, especially with toxic plants. Always wear gloves, and if you have respiratory issues, wearing a mask could be helpful.
After you get everything cleaned, keep it tidy by laying several layers of cardboard to suppress any volunteers and smother any horsetails that might be left, and cover with 4 to 6 inches of very coarse wood chips or “hog fuel.” If you use larger chips, it will take longer to break down. You can use smaller mulch; however, it will break down much more quickly and accelerate the decomposition of the cardboard.
For a complete list of weeds found in Washington, visit
bit.ly/43xlkTk.
I would also invite you to explore the “weeds” display at the Hovander Homestead Park, 529 Nielsen Ave in Ferndale. The Whatcom County Master Gardeners manages the demonstration area and offers visitors the chance to see weeds in their young stage as well as fully developed. An information card next to each pot helps explain the class of weed and primary features.
Kelle Rankin-Sunter is founder of Blaine CORE, which holds free home and gardening classes at Blaine Public Library. Rankin-Sunter can be reached at fruit@Blaine-CORE.com.
