Key identifying traits
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Plants have prostrate stems growing
in all directions from a main tap root
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Leaves are about ˝” wide and oval
and alternate
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The stems are red to purple and
nearly smooth
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Main stems can grow 12-18” long
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Flowers are in small thick clusters
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Seeds are shiny black and lens
shaped
Biology and ecology
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An annual plant spreading by seed
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It is a common garden weed
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Pigweeds can be high in nitrates
causing them to be toxic to livestock
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Most sources say this is an
introduced species that is now naturalized in the U.S.
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It can form dense mats
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other cover crop
Mechanical –
Mowing is not an option since this plant grows flat on the ground; hand
pulling can be effective but roots tend to break off in hard ground
Chemical –There are many herbicides
listed for control of pigweeds-products with dicamba such as
“Weedmaster” is recommended. Also refer to the
PNW Weed Management handbook for specific chemical recommendations.
|
Rich Old, XID Services, Inc |
