One common mistake you may be tempted to make is using a detergent such as dish soap as your preferred wetting agent. It’s easy to see why you may reach for that bottle of detergent, since it’s already available in your home. 

I’ve learnt the hard way that it does more harm to my landscape and pockets in the long run. 

In this post, I’ll show you why using detergents as wetting agents may not be as helpful as you may think, and why it may be the culprit giving the weeds some extra time to grow.

1. Chemical Composition

Detergents are designed to get rid of grime. They contain degreasers, fragrances, and other preservatives that may cause chemical reactions with the herbicide, reducing its efficacy. 

Dish soap, for instance, may not be as effective as a wetting agent in pushing the herbicide into the plant system. It may leave an oily surface to look as though it works, but that’s about all it may do.

Wetting agents, on the other hand, are specifically formulated to reduce a liquid’s surface tension, thereby increasing its penetration into plant cell tissue.

2. Limits Application Maximization

When it comes to weeds like pigweed or marestail, herbicide application becomes a precise science. A detergent will likely bead up and run off, limiting plant contact and overall herbicide uptake. 

The end result? Weeds that keep surviving, more respraying, and you become a frustrated gardener. 

3. Detergents Are Not Label-Approved

Herbicide labels often specify the type of surfactant required. Using unlisted or unapproved products like detergents violates the guidelines, and this may get you into legal trouble in case of drift damage or negative environmental impact. 

What We Recommend

Having observed that household detergents will likely provide satisfactory results, here are our recommendations for effective weed control:

• Use wetting agents approved for weed control and proven to increase uptake, such as soil wetting agents, non-ionic surfactants, and horticultural surfactants. 
• Refer to the herbicide label for the recommended wetting agents and application rates.

Sticking to the agricultural wetting agent products can guarantee a win over weeds when it counts most. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Why You Shouldn’t Use Detergents As Wetting Agents appeared first on InsightWeeds.

If you’re looking to protect your plants against debilitating diseases, the first step is identifying the disease. After properly identifying the pathogen, you can implement the right treatment. 

In this article, we’ll look at common plant leaf diseases and the right treatments to treat them effectively.

Leaf Spot

Leaf spot is a common plant leaf disease caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi like Xanthosoma, Cercospora, and Alternaria. Most of the leaf spot diseases, however, are caused by fungi. The pathogens are typically host-specific and will cause the disease in a specific family of plants.

Recognizing the Problem

Depending on the pathogen, spots may occur on the upper and lower surface of the leaves. They are, however, first observed in the inner and lower leaves where humidity is higher. 

The leaf spots can be black, brown, or tan, rounded or angular, raised or sunken with smooth or fringed edges.

Other symptoms that can help identify the disease include curling and wilting leaves, deformed flowers, and overall poor plant growth. As the disease progresses, you can also observe fungal spores in the larger and older spots. 

Management 

Leaf spot tends to spread when leaves are wet or there is high humidity, therefore, reducing high levels of moisture is an important step in leaf spot management. 

The first step is to prune the affected leaves and dispose of them in the trash. Do not throw them in the compost. Pruning promotes good air circulation, allowing plants to dry up quickly. 

Also, as you water the plants, target the roots and keep the foliage as dry as possible. Fertilizing your plants on time also improves their ability to fight against leaf spot disease.

If the disease persists, use copper-based or broad-based spectrum fungicides like mancozeb, iprodione, or chlorothalonil. 

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a group of diseases caused by a variety of fungi in the Erysiphales order. The most common ones include Erysiphe, Podosphaera, Sphaerotheca, and Uncinula. It tends to affect leaves in high humidity or shady conditions.

Recognizing the Problem

Powdery mildew is easy to identify as a white to gray powdery substance visible on the upper and lower leaf surfaces. The leaves also curl upwards, turn brown, and eventually fall prematurely.  

Management

The first step is to trim the infected leaves and other affected plant parts and dispose of the debris properly.  Do not throw the debris in the compost or till it in the soil as it may overwinter and cause new infestations.

Other management practices include spacing your plants to promote proper circulation and lower humidity levels. Irrigate your plants mid-morning to allow for rapid drying. 

Fungicide applications can help kill present infections and prevent future reoccurrences. These include neem or jojoba oil, sulfur-based sprays, and baking soda solutions (1 tablespoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon liquid soap in 1 gallon of water).

A synthetic fungicide like myclobutanil applied in the early stages of the disease can also provide effective control.

Downy Mildew

Downy mildew is another common plant leaf disease that can affect landscape plants and vegetables like lettuce and cabbage. Unlike powdery mildew which is directly caused by fungi, downy mildew is typically caused by algae.

Recognizing the Problem

To identify the disease, look for yellow spots on the upper leaves and white to grayish fuzzy growth on the lower leaves. 

Management

Downy mildew often appears during cool, wet weather, therefore, increasing air circulation, reducing humidity, and avoiding overhead watering can eradicate the disease and keep it away.

Once you prune the affected leaves, make sure to dispose of them responsibly to avoid recurrence in the following spring. 

To prevent downy mildew disease in ornamental landscapes and vegetable gardens, apply a combination of preventive fungicides like mancozeb and chlorothalonil.

Rust

Rust is a common fungal disease that mostly affects plant leaves. Most rust fungi require specific plant hosts to complete their life cycle. The rust spores vary in color from orange, yellow, black, or brown. 

Recognizing the Problem

On leaves, rust appears as ring-shaped orange, golden, or yellow spots. The spots resemble the brown iron rust, hence the name. The pustules are commonly found on the lower surface and can be numerous on a single leaf. In extreme cases, the leaves turn yellow and can fall prematurely.

Management

If it’s a small infestation, removing the affected leaves can stop the spread of the disease. Proper plant maintenance encourages vigorous growth that can overcome rust infestation. 

If the infestation is severe, timely spraying of fungicides like mancozeb, cyproconazole, and azoxystrobin can treat the disease effectively. 

Blight

Blight is a familiar name as we often associate it with potatoes or tomatoes. It is a fungal disease easily spread by wind, leading to devastating damage. Extended periods of warm and humid conditions accelerate the spread of the disease. 

Recognizing the Problem

Blight damage initially appears as small spots and grows into irregular yellow-ringed lesions. The spots often appear along the veins or edges of the leaves. Since they grow close together, they cause quick premature death and defoliation of the leaves.

Management 

The best defense against blight is prevention. Avoid sprinkler irrigation as it may create ideal conditions for the disease to develop. 

A 2-3 year crop rotation between legumes and non-legume crops can help reduce pathogen buildup in the soil, minimizing an outbreak in the next crop rotation. 

The fungicides that provide the best blight control results are mancozeb and chlorothalonil. However, persistent use of one product may lead to resistance, and interchanging is advised. Also, applying the fungicides as preventatives is more effective than using them to eradicate the disease. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Common Plant Leaf Diseases And Their Treatment (With Photos) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

However, when an insect infestation occurs, it can turn a flourishing turf into unsightly patches of brown chewed-up wreckage. While the situation is disheartening, all is not lost. You can take strategic steps to restore your lawn’s health. 

In this post, we’ll help you identify the insects causing the damage and provide solutions to treat each of them effectively.

Chinch Bugs (Blissus leucopterus)

The chinch bugs are a common pest in many lawn grasses including the fescues and ryegrass. When small, they resemble nymphs and are only ⅕ inch long in maturity.

In their nymph stage, they are black with orange or red markings but no wings while the adult bugs are black with white markings on their wings.

Recognizing the Problem

The bugs pierce the leaf blades and create a straw-like tube where they suck out the juices. Due to the damage, the leaves turn yellow and then brown. 

Management

The chinch bugs are mostly active in dry and sunny conditions, particularly in the summer. Raising mowing height, deep, weekly watering, and fertilizing your lawn can help limit clinch bug damage.

If you prefer a more natural treatment, allow natural predators like ground beetles or ‘big-eyed bugs to feed on the clinch bugs. 

Chemical insecticides such as bifenthrin, trichlorfon, or cyfluthrin can also provide effective control against clinch bugs. An application from April to mid-June is recommended. However, use chemical treatments sparingly as they may harm the natural clinch bug predators and other soil microorganisms.

Sod Webworm (Herpetogramma licarsisalis)

A sod webworm is a caterpillar of various lawn moths. It’s thick, pale green-brown, about 25mm long, with four parallel rows of brown spots on the abdomen. It chews grass blades down to the crown. Bluegrasses are particularly vulnerable to sod webworms.

Recognizing the Problem

Damage by sod webworms appears as small brown patches of grass blades that look clipped or scalped. As the damage increases, the small patches form larger irregular areas.

Green fecal pellets in the thatch, moths flying in a zigzag manner around the lawn area, or flocks of birds on your lawn may also be indicators of the infestation.

Management 

Aerate and dethatch your lawn to reduce the habitat for the larvae. You can also apply granular or liquid products containing permethrin, bifenthrin, and carbaryl. Mow the grass before application and ensure other weeds are not flowering to avoid killing pollinator insects.

ArmyWorm (Spodoptera mauritia)

Armyworms are serious pests of various turfs like fescues, bermudagrass, bluegrass, bentgrass, and ryegrass. The caterpillars can be green, black, or brown with white and yellow stripes, on their backs, and about 40mm in length. 

Since they feed in large armies, they can strip grass blades rapidly, often causing sudden and extensive thinning of the lawn. 

Recognizing the Problem

Damage by armyworms is easy to identify as they eat all the foliage, leaving only the stems and a brown-patched, scalped lawn. You can also observe them feeding in the early mornings and the late afternoons. 

Management 

Since armyworm infestations move quickly and require a fast response, we recommend treating with a lawn insecticide containing permethrin, spinosad, bifenthrin, or chlorantraniliprole for high-value turf grass.

Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon)

Cutworm is a caterpillar pest of the brown moth and is typically green, brown, greyish, or yellow. They are identified by their dark-colored bodies with black spots on the back and sides. 

These pests burrow in the ground during the day and emerge at night to cut off the leaves at the crown level and drag them down the burrow to feed, hence the name. 

Recognizing the Problem

The damage typically appears as round spots or ball marks in the soil that expand to larger areas and wilted or dead grass. You may also find the pests near the base of the cut leaves and stems.

Management

Laying a wet hessian or potato sack bag on the affected area is a popular natural strategy used to eliminate small infestations. They are attracted to the dark and damp bag, making it a viable solution for removing cutworms from a lawn.

For larger infestations, apply an insecticide product containing cyfluthrin, clothianidin, bifenthrin, acephate, and carbaryl. 

Ensure that you read the label as the product may require prior mowing or afternoon applications for the best results. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Types of Insect Leaf Damage in Lawns And How to Treat It appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Let’s explore four key reasons why there is a disparity in their growth and what you can do to take back your lawn. 

1. Weeds Grow Faster While Grass Grows Slower

Weeds are built to grow fast. They have a short lifespan that allows them to germinate, grow, flower, and release seeds in a matter of weeks. 

Most broadleaf weeds will, therefore, grow faster, stronger, and more aggressively than the desirable turfgrass.

Grass, on the other hand, has a longer life cycle and takes months or even an entire season to establish. Due to its steady and slow growth, the turf becomes vulnerable to fast-growing weeds if not properly maintained.

2. The Weeds Are Native to Your Area

When it comes to greenery, the local species may have the home advantage. Many homeowners and turf managers grow grasses that can thrive in the local conditions, but they may not necessarily have the capacity to overcompete the local weeds. 

The native weeds are designed to grow in the local soil and climatic conditions. They can easily grow faster than the grass.

3. Improper Lawn Care

Poor lawn care, such as mowing the grass too short or improper watering and fertilizing, weakens the grass, creating the perfect conditions for weeds to spring up. 

Weeds don’t need ideal conditions to thrive. They can adapt to harsh settings, including stressed or neglected lawns. 

Think of it this way: A healthy lawn is the best defense to choking out weeds as it denies them essential nutrients and sunlight.

4. There May Be Seeds or Roots Underground

If the above reasons still can’t explain why the weeds are overwhelming your lawn, then the enemy may be lurking beneath the soil.

Most of the weeds have a short reproduction cycle and often reproduce aggressively through seeds and underground structures like rhizomes and stolons.

Since many of these weeds are prolific producers, most of the seeds can remain hidden under the soil for a long time, waiting for the right moment to emerge. 

Meanwhile, as you are focused on growing a lush lawn, the seeds and rhizomes are waiting to sprout at the first sign of weakness.

What We Recommend

Weeds may have the upper hand in most circumstances, but you shouldn’t allow them to take over your lawn without a fight. 

Here are our recommendations:

• Improve Lawn Care — Mow at a higher height (2.5-3.5 inches), fertilize regularly, and water deeply and infrequently to grow a thick and healthy lawn that can compete with weeds.
• Aerate and Overseed — Loosen and fill in the bare patches of soil with seed grass to thicken your lawn and choke out weeds.
• Spot Treat Weeds — Pull out weeds manually from the roots or treat them with selective herbicides to prevent them from spreading and taking over your lawn.

A vigorous, healthy lawn is the best natural weed control strategy. The recommendations above will shift the balance in your favor and help you reclaim control over the weeds in your lawn. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Why Weeds Keep Growing Faster Than Grass in Your Lawn appeared first on InsightWeeds.

What’s more, you can download these plant care apps for free!

In this article, we’ll cover seven free plant care apps that can help you monitor your indoor greenery and keep them thriving.

1. Planta

Planta is a favorite plant app for many plant parents because it provides an array of features that will make it easy to care for your plants. First, it can help you accurately identify plants, which is critical if you want to give them the best care.

The app allows you to create reminders for watering, fertilizing, and repotting to keep your plants healthy. Planta is available to download for free on the Google Store and App Store.

2. PictureThis

PictureThis is a free app that’s popular for its accuracy in identifying plants. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify plants from a database of over 1 million plant species. 

Once you’ve identified your plants, you can also access detailed and personalized care instructions and tips. 

While the premium version gives you extra features like plant disease diagnosis and toxic plant identification, the free version will give you the basic information you need to keep a healthy indoor garden. 

You can download it for free on the Google Play Store and App Store. 

3. Happy Plant

Happy Plant is a helpful app for identifying plant diseases and getting expert-recommended treatments. Users can also set personalized maintenance reminders including pruning, and fertilizing.

It is specially designed to make watering fun with games and growth video lapses to keep you motivated.

The app is free to download on the Google Play Store and App Store, with the premium version at only $1.99.

4. Gardenia

Gardenia is a one-in-all app organizer that helps users keep their plants on a list and schedule maintenance tasks. With a simple calendar keeping track of your plants is easy.

The app also provides real-time weather information including humidity and temperature to ensure your plants get the best care.

You can download the Gardenia app on your device for free on the App Store.

5. Blossom

The award-winning app is your friendly plant helper in your pocket. It not only identifies the plants but also helps you navigate all care tasks like fertilizing and repotting effortlessly through timely reminders.

Additionally, with just a snap of a sick plant, you can get an accurate diagnosis and treatment information you need to get your green friend happy and healthy again.

The Blossom plant app is available for download for free on the Google Play Store and App Store. 

6. PlantNet

PlantNet offers a platform for plant parents to gain more insights about their houseplants while contributing to a citizen project. 

Once you upload a snap of your plant on the app, you add it to a plant database that scientists analyze to learn more about Earth’s biodiversity. 

Apart from identification, you can also acquire basic information on how to care for your plants from the curated information accumulated over the years.

The app is free, and you can download it from the Google Play Store and App Store.

7. Plant Note

Do you urgently need help to revive your almost-dying house plants without having to pay for expensive subscriptions? 

Try out the Plant Note app. The app offers accurate plant disease diagnosis, treatment options, and tips to ensure your plants remain healthy and thriving.

With a $0.99 first-month trial, you can accurately identify your plants from their 20,000 plant database and get basic information for regular maintenance. 

You can download the Plant Note app on the App Store. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post 7 Free Plant Care Apps to Keep Your Indoor Plants Healthy appeared first on InsightWeeds.

With a quick snap, it can recognize over 90% of all known plant and tree species on Earth. 

But how good is it, really? 

In this review, we break down its features, pros and cons, pricing, and overall performance to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your plant identification needs.

LeafSnap Plant App: How It Works

The LeafSnap app uses visual recognition software to instantly identify plants from photos of their leaves, flowers, fruits, or bark. 

The steps are quite straightforward:

Launch the app on your phone and capture a clear photo of the plant.

The app analyzes the image and provides a list of possible matches, usually with the most likely identification at the top. You can view details such as its scientific name, care tips, habitat, and more.

LeafSnap also stores your scanned plants in a personal library, making it easy to revisit previous identifications.

What Other Standout Features Does the LeafSnap App Have?

The app may help you instantly identify your plants, but there are other features that can enhance your experience.

These features include:

1. Plant Care Tips

The app offers care instructions for many houseplants and garden plants. You can set up custom reminders to water prune, fertilize, or repot your plants.

2. Access to a Plant Library

LeafSnap saves all your identifications and also stores them in a personal library, making it easy to revisit previous identifications. 

3. Plant Disease Diagnosis

Take a snap of your sick plant and the app can give you a quick, accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan.

4. Mushroom and Insect Identification

Many plant apps typically identify plants and trees. With LeafSnap, you can also accurately identify mushrooms and insects.

Pros and Cons of the LeafSnap Plant Identification App

Here are the pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Fast and Accurate — LeafSnap identifies plants within seconds and with high accuracy, especially for common species.
• Easy to Use — The user interface is intuitive and beginner-friendly.
• Detailed Info — Offers useful plant information beyond just identification.
• Good for Houseplants — The app is especially helpful for indoor plant lovers and gardeners.
  

Cons

• Subscription Model — Most advanced features are locked behind a paid subscription.
• Limited Free Features — The free version comes with ads and limited identifications per day.
• Occasional Inaccuracies —  Some rare or region-specific plants may not be identified correctly.

How Much Does A LeafSnap Subscription Cost?

LeafSnap offers a free version with few features including limited daily plan identifications. 

However, to unlock all the unlimited features, you’ll need a subscription. You can choose between:

1. LeafSnap Premium $37.99
2. LeafSnap Premium $7.99 1 month
3. LeafSnap Premium $24.99 3 months
4. LeafSnap Premium $40.99 6 months
   

The app offers a 3-day free trial for users to test out the premium features before committing. LeafSnap is available to download on Google Play Store and App Store.

Is LeafSnap Worth It?

LeafSnap is a good choice for plant lovers who want a convenient, fast, and informative app for identifying plants.

While the free version is somewhat restrictive, the premium plan unlocks a powerful tool for anyone serious about botany, gardening, or simply satisfying their curiosity about the natural world.

If you frequently find yourself wondering about the plants around you, whether on a walk or at home, LeafSnap can be well worth the investment.

However, if you only occasionally need plant identification, you might be satisfied with the free version or a one-time use during the trial period.

Overall, its accuracy, rich database, and extra identification features make it a top contender among plant ID apps.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post LeafSnap Plant Identification App Review: Is It Worth It? appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Fortunately, technology has quickly come to our aid. A range of mobile apps can help ensure your green friends receive just the right amount of water at the right times. 

Here’s a look at some of the best apps that can remind you to water your plants, helping them thrive and grow.

1. Planta

Planta is a popular plant app with highly efficient features to help identify and cater to all your plants’ needs. 

The app’s smart algorithms utilize over 30 parameters, along with your local weather data to alert you on the best time to water each of your plants. 

Additionally, you can rely on Planta to set reminders on other gardening activities like misting, fertilizing, and repotting.

2. PictureThis

PictureThis is a free plant app that only helps in identification but also personalized watering schedules for each of your plants. 

All you need to do is upload the pictures of the plants and let the app’s algorithms do the rest. One thing is for sure, from now on, your plants will never wilt or die from lack of water.

3. Happy Plant

Happy Plant adds a gamified twist to plant care, featuring a watering streak challenge that motivates you to consistently care for your plants. 

It includes a timer to track how long it’s been since your plants’ last watering and sends cheerful reminders to ensure your plants stay hydrated. 

The app also lets you document each watering with a photo, creating a visual timeline of your plants’ progress.

4. Vera

Developed by Bloomscape, a popular online plant shop, Vera helps you keep track of all your plant care tasks. The app not only reminds you to water your plants but also when to mist, fertilize, and repot. 

Vera allows you to create a profile for each plant, where you can log detailed care notes and track your plant’s health and growth over time. 

5. Gardenia 

Gardenia is a popular app designed to make caring for plants easy. Based on its extensive plant database, you’ll receive customized watering alerts, allowing you to maintain a consistent care routine. 

You can keep watering logs on the app to track when and how much water the plants receive. In the future, you can use the data to make adjustments based on the plant’s response over time.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post These Apps Will Remind You to Water Your Plants appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Seeding creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), a finely textured turfgrass with a leaf blade length of 2-10 cm, can be an excellent option for you.

Although adapted for cooler climates, with extra care, creeping bentgrass can give you a perfectly dense and smooth lawn grass in any climate.  

Native to North Africa, Asia, and Europe, creeping bentgrass is a vibrant bluish-green grass that thrives best in cooler environments and in full sunlight. The turf requires high maintenance (mowing, fertilization, and irrigation) to keep it vibrant and healthy.

Creeping bentgrass exhibits a low to moderate tolerance for shade and moderate to high tolerance for foot traffic.

Pros of Seeding Creeping Bentgrass

Creeping bentgrass grows from stolons and underground rhizomes, forming a fine-textured, dense, and uniform surface. The soft-feeling grass maintains its vibrant green colour throughout the year, giving it a high-quality sheen.

Since it can withstand high foot traffic and a range of low mowing heights (0.5 – 0.125 inches), it’s the perfect turf for areas like golf course greens, croquet greens, fairways, DIY putting greens, and residential lawns. 

Several varieties of the turf are available providing many options for landscapers. Newer varieties of the grass have a stronger tolerance to heat and diseases and require less maintenance.

Depending on the cultivar, a 1-pound bag of seed can cost between $37 and $160. The most popular varieties include Providence, Regent, SR 1020, National, and Penneagle.

Cons of Growing Creeping Bentgrass

The Creeping bentgrass is a high-maintenance grass that requires intensive management. It requires frequent mowing, especially during its peak growth phase in spring. If left unmowed, it becomes puffy, forming circular patches that disfigure the uniform cover. 

The turf’s high intolerance to heat and drought means you’ll need to water it every 2-3 days a week. Newer varieties, depending on the season, can extend between 4-10 days. It’s best to determine the watering requirements through evapotranspiration.

Managing weeds is essential to keeping the grass in good shape. Annual bluegrass, in particular, is a significant weed problem for the turf.

Creeping bentgrass does not respond well to chemical herbicides and manual methods like pulling are preferred. A glyphosate application, for instance, can kill the sensitive grass. 

Additionally, creeping bentgrass is susceptible to pests and diseases. Pests like white grubs, mole crickets, and webworms should be treated with pesticides as soon as they are detected. 

Growing in moist and warm conditions and its tolerance to low-cutting heights make the turf vulnerable to ailments like gray snow mold, yellow patch, and take-all patch. Preventive fungicides can help manage the infections. 

If you’re considering creeping bentgrass for your lawn, keep up with its maintenance needs, and it will give you a picture-perfect outdoor area all year.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post These Are The Pros and Cons of a Creeping  Bentgrass Lawn appeared first on InsightWeeds.

“So many people and organizations have come together to try and protect the butterfly and its habitats.” Anna Walker, a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said, emphasizing that there is renewed hope for increasing the monarch butterfly populations.

You, too, can become one of the heroes by planting monarch butterfly plant favorites!

Best of all, they are easy to plant and maintain, and you can host beautiful butterflies right in your backyard garden!

Here are some of the top “weeds” you can consider for every season.

Providing Nectar and Shelter in the Spring

In early spring, the monarch butterflies begin their journey northwards back from their overwintering grounds in Mexico and Southern California.

Unlike their predecessors, apart from the long journey, they also reproduce along the way, requiring shelter and lots of energy in the form of nectar.

Here are the plants to grow:

1. Siberian Wallflower (Erysimum hieraciifolium)

The showy and fragrant orange nectar plant is easy to grow, and its attractive color will keep monarch butterflies in your garden all spring. 

2. Sweet Asylum (Lobularia maritima)

The elegant and fragrant garden annual is one of the monarch’s favorite springtime plants. For maximum visibility, plant the weed in front of other taller plants.

3. Milkweed 

Milkweed is not only a nectar plant but also the sole host plant of the monarch butterfly, making it crucial to its survival. 

The Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) continues to bloom throughout summer playing host to the female butterfly looking to lay eggs.

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) blooms in late spring providing shelter for the monarchs to rear their young. 

Planting the milkweed in a place with full sunlight but away from the wind will provide a hospitable environment for the monarchs. 

Friendly Plants for Monarch Butterflies in the Summer

During summer, the butterflies continue reproducing as they head towards Canada.

To provide nectar for the monarchs in the summer months, plant:

1. Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) 

Did you know monarchs prefer bright-colored flowers? Plant these showy blooms in a sunny spot, and the butterflies will love them.

2. Lavender Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

The bright purple hyssop blooms are good nectar sources for monarchs and will keep them around in summer and fall.

Getting the Monarch Population Ready for Migration in the Fall

In the fall, the monarchs bustle to store fat in their abdomens for migration and overwintering in Mexico and Southern California. 

You can lend a hand by providing nectar-rich plants such as:

1. Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

These low-growing asters are a vital last-minute nectar source for the monarchs.

Planting them in part shade or a sloppy area of your landscape ensures the best growth and can accommodate more monarch butterflies.

2. Wild Bergamot (Mornada fistulosa)

The fragrant lilac-flowered weed is another fuel resource for monarchs.

Create the butterfly magnet by sowing the seeds in the fall in a place with plenty of natural light.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Planting These “Weeds” Will Help Increase the Monarch Butterfly Population appeared first on InsightWeeds.

These unwanted plants are usually an eyesore, can outcompete and choke out beneficial plants, and can be expensive, not to mention time-consuming to eradicate. 

But what if you did not have to spend your time, energy, and money trying to control invasive weeds? With groundcover plants, you can choke out any weeds on your property and prevent further encroachment. 

Below is a look at some top groundcover plants, which experts agree will keep weeds away from your property. 

1. Bloody Geranium (Geranium sanguineum) 

• Other Names: Bloody Crane’s Bill
• Family: Geraniaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial  

Bloody geranium (Geranium sanguineum) is one of the top plants you can plant as a groundcover to protect your property from weeds. 

It is a perennial plant that spreads through rhizomatous roots and trailing stems, creating a thick ground cover that makes it very hard for weeds to grow. It is easy to grow and will do well in medium moisture, well-drained soils, and partial shade to full sun. 

Advantages of using Bloody geranium (Geranium sanguineum) as ground cover

• Weed suppression: It is a low-growing plant that spreads to cover a wide area, creating a dense carpet of foliage that chokes out weeds and prevents new ones from growing. 
• Aesthetic appeal: Its showy, pink to reddish-purple flowers bloom all summer, creating a very appealing look. In addition, its leaves turn red in fall, creating quite an impression. 
• Low maintenance: It is easy to plant and propagate, can withstand harsh sun conditions, and is not affected much by pests and diseases. 
• It supports pollination: Its flowers are full of nectar and pollen, which attracts bees and other insects for pollination.  

Disadvantages of using Bloody geranium: 

• It can be invasive: It spreads through rhizomes and can self-seed in the right conditions, which can be problematic. 
• It dies back in winter: It is herbaceous and dies back in the winter, leaving your landscape a bare eyesore. 

2. Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) 

• Other Names: Creeping phlox, moss pink, mountain phlox
• Family: Polemoniaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) is a low-growing perennial plant that reaches just about 13cm high. However, it can spread wide, up to 50cm, forming thick mats with its hairy, linear leaves. 

Its creeping habit helps to quickly fill an area, crowding out existing weeds and preventing new ones from germinating. It can also grow in various habitats, from clearings to slopes, borders, and rocky edges. 

Advantages of using Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) as ground cover:

• Excellent weed suppression: It spreads quickly, creating large, dense carpets of foliage that can choke out weeds. 
• Attractive flowers: It produces vibrant pink, purple, blue, or white flowers in spring that are very attractive. It is also evergreen, creating a visual appeal of green foliage in your landscape year-round. 
• It is easy to maintain: It takes hold easily, does not require frequent watering, can do well in poor soils, and is drought tolerant. It is also tolerant to common garden pests like rabbits and deer. 
• It attracts pollinators: Its beautiful nectar-filled flowers attract a range of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. 
• Erosion control: Its thick foliage mat can prevent soil erosion, especially on slopes and banks. 

Disadvantages of using Moss Phlox: 

• It can be invasive: Its aggressive spreading habit can become uncontrollable if not properly managed. 
• It has a short flowering period: It has a very short flowering period of only 3-4 weeks. 

3. Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum) 

• Other Names: Italian clover, incarnate clover 
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) is an annual plant popular for its attractive blooms. However, it is quickly becoming one of the top ground cover crops. 

One of the best features of crimson clover is that it quickly establishes itself in a new area. It also does well in any soil conditions, thus making it a perfect groundcover crop in several areas that may be susceptible to weeds. 

Advantages of using Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) as ground cover:

• Weed suppression: It is very fast-growing with a dense cover and can outcompete other invasive plants, choking them out. 
• Aesthetic appeal: It produces attractive, deep crimson flowers that turn your landscape into a work of art. 
• Preventing soil erosion: It has a fibrous taproot system that helps to prevent soil erosion. 
• Improving the soil: It fixes nitrogen in the soil and creates a conducive environment for earthworms around its roots, helping to improve soil conditions. 

Disadvantages of using Crimson clover:

• It is a short-lived annual: Once it dies back, you must replant it, which can be quite expensive. 
• It does not do well in areas with heavy traffic: It is vulnerable to children, pets, and other forms of heavy traffic. 

4. Spotted Dead-Nettle (Lamium maculatum)

• Other Names: Spotted henbit, Purple dragon
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum) is a low-growing, spreading perennial plant. This, combined with its attractive blooms, makes it the perfect groundcover plant to add to your landscape. 

It is a fast-growing plant that can quickly cover large areas, filling them out completely. Its aggressive growth and thick foliage make it easy to overrun and choke out weeds growing on your property. 

Advantages of using Spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum) as ground cover:

• It offers excellent weed suppression: It is fast-growing and can cover large areas, choking out weeds. 
• It is very aesthetically appealing: It produces beautiful pink, purple, or white flowers. It also has attractive variegated leaves, which provide a beautiful display year-round. 
• It is very low maintenance: It requires minimal care, can grow in drought conditions, and can even tolerate shady areas. 

Disadvantages of using Spotted dead nettle:

• It can be an aggressive spreader: Its aggressive growing habit can become a problem, especially if planted near other shorter beneficial plants, as it can suffocate them. 

5. Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) 

• Other Names: Ajuga, Blue bugle, Carpet bugle, carpetweed, carpet bugleweed, bugle herb
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) is a low-growing perennial plant that forms a thick, dense carpet, making it a perfect groundcover plant. 

Its high tolerance to severe conditions makes it even more perfect as a cover crop. It can do well in several soil types, including poor soil, and tolerate full sun, shady areas, and dry soils. 

Advantages of using Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) as ground cover:

• It offers an impressive groundcover: It is very fast-growing, quick to establish itself in bare areas (even where grass refuses to grow), is fast-spreading, and can form thick, dense mats that choke out weeds. 
• It is very low-maintenance: It is drought-resistant, does well in almost all soil types, can withstand sun or shade, and is very easy to care for. 
• It has very beautiful blooms: It produces spikes of blue, pink, white, or purple tubular flowers that are very attractive. 

Disadvantages of using Bugleweed:

• It can be invasive: It is very fast-growing and is thus considered invasive in areas where it is not native. 
• It can be toxic: If ingested, parts of the plant can be toxic to animals and humans. 

6. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) 

• Other Names: Breckland thyme, wild thyme, elfin thyme, Breckland wild thyme
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a low-growing plant that grows to about 2cm tall. Its creeping stems allow it to spread far, forming thick, dense mats on the ground. 

The plant is drought-resistant, very low-maintenance, and can withstand foot traffic. Therefore, in addition to being used for groundcover, it is also cultivated as an alternative to turf lawns. 

Advantages of using Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) as ground cover:

• Weed suppression: It is very fast-spreading and forms thick, dense mats. Therefore, it can suppress weeds in several areas, from lawns, bare land, or between tall plants.  
• It is very low maintenance: It is drought-resistant, does not require much watering, and can do well in rocky or sandy soils. 
• It is very attractive: It produces beautiful pinkish to purple flowers from late spring to early summer. It also has a very pleasant, mint-like fragrance. 
• It can be used as a lawn: Its drought resistance, low maintenance, and low-growing nature make it a perfect alternative to grass lawns. 

Disadvantages of using Creeping thyme

• It can be invasive: Due to its aggressive nature, it can quickly spread to and colonize other areas. 
• It does not handle heavy foot traffic: While it is a good alternative to turfgrass lawns, it does not do well in heavy traffic. 

7. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) 

• Other Names: sweetscented bedstraw, bedstraw
• Family: Rubiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a perennial plant that spreads through a creeping rhizome system, forming dense, thick mats on the ground. 

It does well in shady areas, where it can prevent the growth of weeds. It can also be planted between taller perennials and shrubs and can be used for edging, further suppressing invasive species. 

Advantages of using Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) as ground cover:

• Weed suppression: It forms a thick, dense mat that suffocates weeds. The dense foliage also prevents sunlight from reaching the soil, thus preventing the germination of new seeds. 
• It is visually appealing: It has attractive white flowers that bloom from early spring. Its bright, evergreen leaves and fragrant aroma also help improve the landscape’s appeal. 
• It prevents soil erosion: Its deep, extensive root systems help prevent soil erosion, especially in sloppy areas.  
• It acts as a natural mulch: It acts as a natural, live mulch that helps to conserve soil moisture when planted between other plants. 

Disadvantages of using Sweet woodruff:

• It can be invasive:  At optimal growing conditions, it can become aggressive and spread out of control if not contained. 
• It can be a bit toxic: While it is used for herbal medicine, it can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

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