Even with the most vigilant weed pulling and natural herbicides, it’s impossible to get rid of every weed in the organic lawn and garden. However, some common weeds can serve a valuable purpose in the garden, providing the gardener with free food, soil enrichment, and food for wildlife.
Gardeners must be sure about the identification of any weed before consuming the plant. The gardener must not consume any weed that exhibits fungal growth, or those that may be contaminated with chemical herbicides or pesticides.
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Chickweed matures rapidly, but this frustrating characteristic can work in favor for the gardener if he tills it beneath the soil before it sets seed as a source of green manure. Don’t despair if the plants do set seed, as the seeds are nourishing to wild birds.
Clover growing in the yard or garden can enrich its neighbors by pulling nitrogen from the air and placing it in the soil, where other plants can use it. In fact, some gardeners buy seeds of this nitrogen fixing plant and use it as a cover crop.
If dandelions are one of the most despised weeds in the organic garden, they are also some of the most versatile for the gardener. Few have a problem identifying the low-growing perennial by its yellow rosette flowers and saw-toothed leaves. These leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals, and make a good salad addition. The bitter roots provide a coffee substitute for those who avoid caffeine. The flowers attract butterflies, and the seed heads provide food for finches.
Lamb’s quarters is an annual weed that may have smooth or slightly toothed oval-shaped leaves. The foliage often exhibits a powdery white color on the surface, which isn’t mildew. With positive identification, gardeners may eat as much of this delicious spinach substitute as they like. The plants are high in vitamin B, protein, and iron. The inconspicuous flowers attract hover flies, which prey on aphids. This weed also provides nectar for bees.
The USDA considers toadflax to be an invasive weed that crowds out native plants. Gardeners can identify this weed by its needle-like foliage and petite yellow flowers that resemble snapdragons. In fact, before it achieved noxious weed status, this plant came to the United States in the 1600s as a valued ornamental plant. Gardeners who can’t get rid of it completely can appreciate its value as a nectar-rich plant for butterflies, bees, and hover flies.
Source:
USDA National Agricultural Library
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