One very nice thing about the whole 20 Minute Garden concept is that 20 minutes of weeding is about all I can take. Another good thing is that 20 minutes of weeding can make quite a difference, especially if you have adopted a few other practices like mulching, close planting, and periodic weeding blitzes.
Since we try to mulch our gardens as much as possible with whatever organic matter we can get our hands on– including grass clippings, leaves, straw, and even non-noxious or easily spreading weeds– the weeds that do pop up through the mulch layer are usually easy to spot and not deeply rooted. We pull those weeds and leave them on the surface of the mulch where they whither and begin to break down slowly and enrich the soil. Ah, the circle of life in the garden.
Today I spent 20 minutes concentrating on weeding the unknown “ground cover” plant that pops up everywhere in our neighbor’s garden beds. We assume that a previous owner originally planted this vining ground cover on purpose, although we have no way of being sure. Ever since we began gardening on our neighbor’s plot, we have done repeated battles with this plant.
One of my favorite garden bloggers who writes at This Garden is Illegal recently discussed her plan to use the power of her hate to make changes in her garden. If I hate anything about the garden, it would be this plant. Hate still seems like a too-strong word, however, because, quite frankly, I have to admire this plant. The aspects I admire about it as a plant are the same aspects I hate about it as a weed.
• Said plant has a very simple root structure, the kind that breaks off below dirt level when you yank too hard.
• Said plant will grow up and aroundanything including garden stakes, tomato cages, sticks, anything we plant, other stems of itself. It’s the ultimate user.
• Said plant keeps coming back. It’s not easily discouraged.
Small but persistent
I don’t have any idea what the plant is but I’d really like to find out. If anyone has a clue, leave me your suggestion. I’ll tell anyone who doesn’t want a perennial ground cover that will compete with other plants to avoid it. And I can give the ground cover’s name to anyone who is looking for an indestructible garden plant that has the attributes needed to rule the world.
Pulled weeds used as mulch
It looks like bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis, and it lives up to its name, binding around bushes and smothering them.
Thanks for the tip! You are right on about the name of the plant and, again, the name is perfect. It’s nice to know what to call your gardening nemesis!