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Weeds - The Ultimate SurvivorsLeave a patch of soil for a few weeks and you are sure to find an
assortment of weeds. These hardy pioneers of the plant world manage to
find a home in the most inhospitable places. Cracks in concrete, dry
areas around buildings, and of course in all pathways.
I grew up with some of the most hostile weeds within the orchards and
vineyards in South Australia. My greatest fear was Innocent weed or
Spiny burr-grass (Cenchrus pauciflorus).
This noxious weed starts off as
a harmless soft grass, but once the
round burrs or seeds are produced, sharp curved spines will attach to
clothing and flesh. Trying to remove a seed often resulted in part of
the spine becoming imbedded under the skin. Hand harvesting grapes
infested with innocent weeds is an experience never forgotten.
There were many other unpleasant weeds capable of causing injury. Three-
cornered Jack, Caltrop and Bathurst Burr all had spiny seed. The most
annoying weed we called "Love Grass" never caused injury, but the small
seeds would stick to clothing and be almost impossible to remove. Socks
never lasted long when this grass produced seed.
Many battles were held against invading Couch grass, and until modern
herbicides were developed we always lost! One of the prettiest weeds "Soursob"or
Oxalis provided lasting memories- fields of bright yellow flowers in
winter and spring. Cultivation simply spread the small underground bulbs
and we learnt to live with this attractive resident.
Weeds are unwelcome because they rob crops of water, nutrients and
sunlight. Some cause injury to animals and others clog implements making
them difficult to operate. Weed seeds contaminate grain crops lowering
their value.
They are spread by wind, water and machinery. Birds and
other animals help to spread weed seeds over large areas. No wonder they
have had such a bad reputation!
Having unpleasant memories of weeds resulted in my biggest surprise
since purchasing my hobby farm. Most of the weeds found are quite tame
when compared to the ones I grew up with on the orchard.
I have actually
become fond of these weeds, as they are able to survive the current
drought. They are providing me with
free organic matter for mulching around the young windbreak trees. They
are also keeping the soil cool and preventing soil from blowing away.
The most outstanding of these survivors forms a thick matt, hence it's
common name "Carpet weed". It has an incredibly deep root system and can
tolerate very salty soil. This native of coastal areas around Melbourne
(Frankenia pauciflora) has become a life saver on the hobby farm.
Some of my current weeds include the pretty Gazania and Soursob, a much
more sedate couch grass and only one farm thug, the African boxthorn.
Weeds have now become friends rather than foes.
Author: Ben Tan
This article on weeds is taken from Alf's Hobby farm site at
www.farmforfun.com/Weeds.html
Ben provides assistance and consultancy to real and virtual estate owner
in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.
http://www.farmforfun.com
Ben is also in the process of helping Alf to publish an eBook on his
writings on hobby farming.
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