Everyone in Texas knows weeds are a staple in the garden. Haven`t found a way yet to totally eliminate them and I am not so sure I want to now. Every year I have pulled weeds till I am sick and tired of them,, and still battled potato bugs, squash bugs ect. This year I only pulled the front of the garden and left an area at the back since that's where the tractor has to turn. There is nothing planted there but horse nettle grows well as does crabgrass. This year I have had basically no bugs at all. Beautiful potato plants and everything else. Also noticed an abundance of lady bugs. I always have a lot of them but this year more than usual. When I walked to the back of the garden where the horse nettle was allowed to grow,, that's where all the bugs were, Eating the horse nettle instead of my potatoes. And ladybugs were there too. Seems they like the nettle better than my potatoes.
I have lots of wildflowers (others may call them weeds) growing amongst my plants. You're right the bugs prefer them to the cultivated plants so leave them alone. Sometimes 'weeds' can actually be healthy for your garden.
Well,, horse nettle is loaded with seed and is pretty invasive if left alone. But on the other hand its easy to pull up roots and all. So this is a pretty good trade out,, they can have the back of the garden, I keep the front. I have only had to spray once lightly for white flies and other than that, no problems with bugs so far. And the ladybugs are keeping other things in check.
I am sure there are,, but many have to be purposely planted by you. These are good weeds and come up on their own. Potato bugs have stripped the leaves and they now look like sticks. Still none on my potatoes.
Good luck with the horse nettles. I would hope you can get the bug attractant thing early, then pull and burn them before they shed any seed. They are known to harbor viruses that affect other solanums, like tomato and pepper. Timing is important. If you pull all you see in the fall, you'll still have them come up next year. ETA: I should add HN are a good trap crop for flea beetles here. Maybe some enterprising young plant breeder can select a non-or late-fruiting type...?? Please?
They grow among my tomatoes and peppers every year. Never a problem with anything,, other than bugs. Only thing is,,they don`t work for squash bugs or borers. Went to check the corn in big garden, same thing there. They are stripping the horse nettle, not touching the corn. Prettiest corn we have ever had. Need to find the proper name for this. Horse nettle may be a local name. Not sure its the same everywhere.
Sure will later,, picking corn now,, will show the "after" pic too. The corn is the best and prettiest we have had,, same weeds there !! Weeds stripped. Still have a few ear worms but greatly reduced.
I doubt there's a gardener who hasn't heard the adage, "A weed is a plant unfortunate enough to grow where it isn't wanted." I think of weeds as a resource. If it grows it can be harvested and composted. I leave some weeds for the bugs, compost some and lay the ones I missed out in the sun to dry and they go in the mulch pile. I know you aren't supposed to mulch with weeds or compost seedy weeds. But, Mother Nature doesn't worry about such things. Neither do I. I don't buy straw or bags of mulch. The only "weed" I go after with a vengeance and throw in the burn pile is Bermuda grass. I think it's important to state that compared to many here, I have a small garden. I garden all year round but just for hubby and me.
I know what you mean Pricklypear ! Bermuda is OK in the yard or pasture but you just can`t keep it there. Bermuda and Maypops are two things I can do without.
If you find any use for Bind Weed, tell me. It is invasive, climbs around the veggies, has roots at least a foot deep in the soil. I wish it was edible.
