Hey Phalon, What's This?

[Mini Mia]

Phalon: There's a plant that has taken over my driveway, and everyone else claims it's taking over everywhere and want to know what it is. My niece hates mowing her yard cause it gives her a sneezing fit.

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Have any idea what it is and how to get rid of it?

[Phalon]

I don't know, Joxie - it's kind of hard to tell from the photo. A shot of an individual leaf and flower might be better.

I'm guessing it's either some sort of artemisia (there are hundreds of species) or maybe pineapple weed. Are the flowers in the photo at bud stage, or is that the opened flower? Pineapple weed flowers don't have petals and look like what's in the photo. Roll a leaf between your fingers, then smell them; pineapple weed leaves give off a distinct pineapple-like scent when crushed.

Most artemisia species spread by runners and may be hard to eradicate.

Without knowing what it is exactly, here are some basic recommendations for getting rid of it:

If it's growing between the cracks of your driveway, pull it, spray it with Round-up or white vinegar. If there's not a ton of it, and you're feeling industrious, you can chop off all the flower heads first (pineapple weed, for example, spreads by seeds, so killing the plant won't necessarily get rid of the problem if it's already reseeded).

For the lawn, use a weed and feed fertilizer at a rate in accordance with the package instructions, or spray the area with a broad-leaf, NOT a broad-spectrum herbicide, (broad spectrum herbicides kill everything). Then use Preen or another pre-emergent herbicide; this will prevent any seed from germinating. Again, apply at rates according to product instructions. If a pre-emergent herbicide is used, reseeding the lawn will have to wait (6 to 8 weeks for many pre-emergents).

More than one application of any product may be necessary later in the season.

[Mini Mia]

My driveway is gravel, and there's a large patch of this stuff in it. I didn't smell any pineapple. But then I was afraid to breathe too deeply to keep from having a sneezing fit.

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BTW: If you click on the images you'll be able to see larger versions.

[Phalon]

It's definitely pineapple weed, no doubt about it.

www.co.stevens.wa.us/weedboard/other%20weeds/HTM%20pages/pineappleweed.htm

Good news is it's an annual. Good news is it's edible with medicinal properties. Bad news is that it reseeds prolifically; one plant can produce 800 to 7,000 seeds.

Pull it or spray it, then use a pre-emergent.

Or find a bunch of pineapple weed recipes.

[Mini Mia]

Thanks Phalon. It doesn't seem like such a bad weed to have after all. If you can stand the sneezing. And when we shoot fireworks I can rub some all over me to repel the blood suckers.

[Phalon]

You're welcome, Joxie.

And when we shoot fireworks I can rub some all over me to repel the blood suckers.

Hhmmm....I've always used garlic and a crucifix for that. And a wooden stake doesn't hurt either....unless, of course, you're the one sucking the blood.

[Spock]

May 10, 2013 6:08:39 GMT -6 Phalon said:

... a wooden stake doesn't hurt either ...

It would have to be a really TINY wooden stake ...

[Phalon]

Yes, tiny stakes are the best kind to on minisquitos.