For a long while, I'd been eyeing this colony of invasive Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) that's growing in a field across the street. According to the Texas Invasives database, "Johnsongrass is considered one of the 10 most noxious weeds in the world." So while I was over there in the field, photographing invasive nandina, I pulled on my green gloves and then pulled out that nasty bunch of Johnsongrass. It's gone now.
Last spring, I learned in my Texas Master Naturalist classes to look for a tell-tale marking. Johnsongrass always has a distinctive white line up the leaf.
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| The species, which was brought to the States as a forage crop in the early 1800s from the Mediterranean region, has vigorous rhizomes. And that's no lie! Just look at this one! |
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| I didn't pull up all the Johnsongrass. There's more. And only one of me. Plus, I decided that maybe I'd better ask the owner first..... |
2 comments:
I share a story about the same ole Johnson Grass. I think everyone that likes a pretty lawn should have to done yard-work for my Mother, Dorothy. She new what she wanted and wasn't shy about having someone (me) do it. I grew up pulling Johnson Grass. Boy it stings when it cuts your palm! One day my Great Uncle Staton asked my Mother what and why she had me out in the backyard pulling Johnson Grass. You can figure out her reply. "Dorothy, he says, what do you think I do after I cut the hay, I till that under to spread the seeds in the roots, only way to get rid of it is to cut and cut" I love my Great Uncle!!!
Great story! And I take it that you're OK with me pulling the Johnsongrass over there? :-)
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