Beware of Weeds Bearing Gifts

alternanthera-pungens

It was such a lovely little ground-hugging plant. I first noticed it growing in the paths between the beds. And, along with its loveliness, it was driving out the Bermuda grass. So, not only did I allow it to grow, but I encouraged it. It was soft, pleasant to walk on and kneel on to work the beds…a gift!

It spread readily throughout the garden that first year. Then, late in the season I went out to do a little weeding and knelt down upon this lovely little plant and…PAIN! It had developed thousands of tiny little stickers that stuck to me, my shoes, my clothes, knees and hands. I had been fooled! The pretty, little seemingly harmless plant was none other than Alternanthera pungens or Creeping Chaffweed aka Khaki Burr Weed! Apparently a problem throughout the known world but unknown at Charamon until the last couple of years.

So here is the lesson, never trust a weed! It may be pretty, it may have a lovely little flower, it may hold the promise of being beneficial. But then, when you least expect it, it will turn on you to become another enemy of the estate.

It is so pervasive now that I’ll probably never be fully rid of it. About the best that can be said is that, along with Nutsedge and Bermuda, it makes pretty good biochar.