Photograph by Shari Kaplan
The pothos, which exhibits both solid and variegated leaves, is among the most common houseplants. It is also easy to root from cuttings.
The war against weeds is one of strategy, patience
By Tony Tomeo
Contrary to what my neighbors might say, my front lawn is not a weed demonstration garden. In fact, I actually do not have many species of weeds in the garden. Those that are present just happen to be very obvious.
Weeds are defined as "plants where they do not belong." This is a broad definition which applies to many exotic (imported) species that naturalize, including trees such as blue gum eucalyptus and Bailey acacia. Many exotic species that have become familiar weeds were imported by accident. Many, however, have been imported as forage crops, lumber crops or ornamentals. In the Santa Clara Valley, there are not any native weed species I can think of.
Most garden enthusiasts are not concerned with tree weeds, but rather the voracious annuals and perennials that are often difficult to eradicate once they become established. Of course, some require considerably more attention than others. Some, particularly the perennials, are often difficult to remove completely and can easily grow back from parts left in the soil.
Bermuda grass is one of the most bothersome weeds and can be difficult to remove. It has become widely distributed because it was once commonly used as a lawn grass. In fact, my lawn is composed of "dwarf Bermuda grass." It creeps both at the surface of the soil and below the surface with subterranean stems known as stolons. If the grass is removed at the surface, it quickly grows back from the stolons. Bermuda grass is very difficult to remove if it has become intermingled with the roots and lower limbs of shrubbery.
Yellow oxalis (wood sorrel) also grows back quickly from roots and bulbs. The problem I had is that I left it because the neighbors found it attractive. Unfortunately, the flowers set seed quickly. Plant removal is advisable to slow the dispersion of seed, but will not eradicate it. Digging of subterranean parts or application of chemical herbicides is usually necessary. If digging is preferred, it's necessary to dig several times to remove plants that survived previous procedures.
Portulaca (the weed form) does not grow back from subterranean parts, but may seem as difficult to eradicate because of the profusion of seed. It will be much more easy to control if plants are removed as they appear, before setting seed. Portulaca does not compete well with other species, but can be a serious problem in areas of partially exposed soil, such as rows in vegetable gardens. Spotted spurge behaves similarly.
Dandelion is not as common as it once was, mainly because of the dense growth of contemporary lawn grasses. Dandelions are still somewhat common in sparser lawns or in other areas of the landscape. When one becomes established, it can quickly produce a profusion of seed. Mature plants exhibit long, thick taproots that usually break when the tops of the plants are pulled. New plants quickly grow back from the broken root tips. When they grow in expansion joints in concrete, taproot removal is nearly impossible.
Of course, there are more weeds than I can describe. Most should be removed as soon as they are noticed, before they become a serious problem. Unfortunately, chemical herbicides are often the best option. Most herbicides are selective, which means they are specific to a particular type of weed. Modern products commonly available at nurseries, garden centers and hardware stores are very efficiently labeled for their recommended use.
Vine of the Week: Pothos
Most people are familiar with the juvenile form of pothos, Epipremnum aureum, that has been one of the most popular house plants since macramé. At maturity in the wild, pothos is actually a voracious vine that climbs trees and overtakes the foliar canopy with its own coarse, deeply lobed foliage.
As a houseplant, it may be trained to climb or grown in hanging containers so the vines can spill out. The pointed, glossy, oval leaves are about 2 to 4 inches long. They may be completely green or variegated with gold or creamy white.
Pothos prefers bright ambient light, but not direct sun exposure which might burn foliage. It thrives in rich, well-drained soil, but can easily rot if the soil is constantly saturated. If stressed, it will abscise the oldest foliage first, leaving a bare vine with foliage at the distal end. Such vines may be pruned back to promote new shoot growth at the base. Parts that have been pruned are easily rooted.
Horticulturist Tony Tomeo may be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
