Meet Mugwort!
Mugwort is also called wild chrysanthemum because of the shape of the lower leaves. The plant is a perennial that spreads rapidly by rhizomes. It is one of the most severe weeds of the nursery and landscape plantings. It, along with Japanese knotweed (bamboo), is rapidly becoming one of our worst roadside weeds because people dig it out of their plantings and drop it alongside the road. CASORON should be used to control it wherever possible. The white wooly underside of the leaf is a good ID characteristic and is visible even in the winter. It is a relative of dusty miller.
Photo and Information courtesy of RUTGERS
Photo and Information courtesy of RUTGERS
It looks like goldenrod without the yellow flowers. It is the most aggressive weed and the bane of my existence. It came out of nowhere and can pop up after the earth is disturbed. I suppose mine came after I put in my septic system. It is impossible to get eradicate so I have just tried to embrace it since I don't like chemicals, but I am tempted. I have hired my tractor friend to come and mow two or three times next year with his brush hog. When it first appeared on the hillside to the left of my expansive back property, I hired weedwhackers with metal blades. It is VERY woody and the stalks can be very thick. I have tried pulling it too. Someone suggested a flame thrower and that might take care of what's above ground but not the roots and rhizomes. Down below it would continue to spread like "wildfire". If you have this weed too, you have my sincere sympathy. The best we can do is keep it cut back. xo
Today is a very somber day in the history of our country since the Twin Towers tragedy in NYC on 9/11/2001.
2 comments:
Second time typing is a charm - I hope. If this is a duplicate please delete it.
Try spraying with a gallon of vinegar, 1/2 c dawn dish soap, 1 c of salt. Wait until the salt completely dissolves before spraying. Vinegar is an acid, soap helps the vinegar stick, salt draws the moisture out of the plant and roots. This works faster than Roundup, doesn’t leave poison behind, and even kills ivy (it also can clear your sinus’ out pretty darn quick!). BUT you do need to dig it up after the plant dies to get those lovely roots.
I might spray, till, and then flame throw. Lot of work but if it gets rid of the nightmare might be worth a try.
Oh my goodness Rosemary! I just realized after doing more online searching that what I thought was ragweed is actually mugwort! It is truly a nightmare & I need to be diligent this fall to try to get all the roots out, although I truly know that is impossible. Thanks for the information.
...all is grace!
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