Written and edited by Tammy 2nd July 2023.
Winter is finally here and with it comes an abundance of annual weeds!
It can be a little confusing at times identifying plants and knowing what's a weed and what's not. Something new randomly pops up in your garden with a pretty little flower, and you hesitate before rushing to pull it out...you think to yourself that's pretty, it might be worth keeping. That's a gardener prerogative, isn't it?😜
Fumaria Capreolata
Let me introduce you to this one, Fumaria. Fumaria capreolata a member of the poppy family. If you've got some poppies in as I have, run out and look at their foliage right now and you might see some similarities. Take a look at the pictures here below, kinda cool hey!
Often referred to as climbing or ramping fumitory due to its growth habit, it climbs, scrambles and rambles everywhere and almost overnight you've gone from nothing more than one or two random plants to having it choking out and taking over an entire garden bed.
Fumitory is a herbaceous annual that pops up this time every year once the ground is cool and damp, it needs the sub soil moisture to trigger germination. Delicate lime green fern-like foliage, and the give-way for this particular species is the purple tipped white flower.
How much of an issue it is and how to deal with it will come down to the individual.
In my yard, I have a small amount of it that comes up between the edge of the lawn and the base of my Pittosporum hedge amongst the mulch on the ground. It tends to come up anywhere there's enough light and bare soil and nothing to compete with it. It's a manageable amount that in all honesty, when the sun is shining with a coffee in hand, I'm happy to do some stretching and pull it out. The roots of the plant are fine and shallow making it easy to remove by hand.
As with any weeds, removing them entirely and regularly, preferably before they have a chance to flower and set seed, replenishing the seed bank is a no brainer.
I could also put down a thick layer of newspaper, cardboard and or fresh mulch to smother and suffocate, them. This is a 'win win' approach because not only does it deal with the weeds, but as it breaks down carbon is added back into the soil feeding all the microorganisms.
If pulling it out or smothering it really aren't options for you, let's say it's taking over your garden bed you could perhaps try spraying it out.
I would still pull up as much as possible, and then perhaps try Richgro Beat-A-Weed.
Always opt for a natural alternative where possible.
For optimum results, wait for a calm, still, sunny day. The active ingredients in beat-a-weed are acetic acid and sodium chloride, essentially, salt and vinegar. Glyphosate free, nothing harmful. Be sure to read the instructions prior and use the product as per the directions on the label.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has winter weeds going crazy everywhere right now, it's a case of trying to manage and prevent them multiplying in the best way we can, in a way that is kind to our environment.
For now, put another log on the fire, keep warm and enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Happy Gardening😘🌸🪴
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