Date Photo Taken: Feb. 1st 2012
Location: Hoschton Ga (near Mall of Ga)
Posted By: penumbra
Notes:
this is a tenacious weed taking over my sedum bed. It is slightly fleshy leaved, has never flowered and spreads by shallow runners. The leaves are arrowhead shaped and I have tried to hand weed it rather than use herbicide because I’m afraid I will kill the sedums too. Winter didn’t slow its spread one bit! Help!
Bobby Says:
Indicator weeds are weeds that are most often found in specific soil types or conditions. Your weed, sheep sorrel, is one that indicates acid soil conditions. Sedum can tolerate soil ph from acidic to alkaline. It is not a guick fix but try liming. I have seen sheep sorrel decline in junipers after liming one year earlier. Preemergent herbicides would probably reduce growth from seed but sheep sorrel is a perennial weed so expect regrowth from established plants. I can’t think of any post emergent that wouldn’t injure the sedum in your effort to control the sorrel.
February 5th, 2012 at 11:38 amSouthern Garden Coach Says:
It looks like sorrel or sheep sorrel (Rumex) If that’s the case, the best thing you could put on it would be a little raspberry vinaigrette, then eat it.
Actually it’s a winter weed, so that may explain the growth in the winter. But you may need to use some elbow grease to get it out of your sedum bed, because the usual broad leaf weed control will certainly kill the sedum.
February 5th, 2012 at 10:31 pmAngelyn Says:
This is sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella). You may not want to hear this, but it is actually an edible plant (in moderation). Yes, it can be obnoxious and I also hand-weed it from my flower and vegetable beds.
February 8th, 2012 at 7:59 pmpenumbra Says:
maybe I’ll put some chicken wire around the bed and turn a rabbit loose in there! If it’s tasty like you say he should gobble it right up!
February 9th, 2012 at 2:24 pm