Stellaria media, which is also popularly called chickweed, is one of the most difficult to remove vegetable garden weeds. It is perfectly adapted to survive and reproduce even in difficult conditions, so the fight with him can turn into an endless cycle.

But experts say that to achieve a significant reduction in the number of chickweed and contain its spread is quite possible, if you know some of the features of the plant. OBOZREVATEL tells about these features in detail.

Weaknesses of chickweed

At first glance, chickweed is not very adapted for survival - it is squat and cannot compete for light with taller weeds. And its shallow root system prevents it from sinking deep into the ground in search of water and nutrients. In contrast, it has developed remarkable survivability.

It is ensured by the plant's ability to lay on the ground and quickly form new roots. For this purpose, the stem of the chickweed consists of short internodes, along which stretch silvery hair-like structures. Due to this, after contact with wet soil, the plant quickly develops new roots and sprouts young stems. In addition, it produces seeds several times a season - about 2500 seeds, which remain germinable for several years and wake up at about 5 degrees Celsius.

Chickweed develops most vigorously in spring, when it is already warm enough, and the ground is still wet. That is why you should start fighting the plant as soon as the first sprouts appear on the surface of the soil. The younger the weed, the easier it is to remove it. Seeds are more difficult to control - they do not need a dormant period and are well preserved in the ground.

Methods of combating chickweed

You can remove the weed if you make it germinate before other plants. To do this, as soon as the snow melts, cover the beds with black film - under it the soil warms up faster and the chickweed begins to sprout. As soon as its thread-like shoots appear on the surface, you need to choose a sunny day and remove the film. The sun will dry out the young plants.

It also helps to loosen and dig over the soil. In this case, the seeds of chickweed deepen more than 1.5 centimeters into the soil, which prevents it from germinating. After such treatment, you can sow the vegetable garden.

If the chickweed has already sprouted and it needs to be weeded out, then the hoe under it should be driven at least two centimeters. It is at this depth that most of the roots of the weed are located. Everything that manages to cut down in this way, it is necessary to put it on the bedding and take it out of the vegetable garden, so that the plant particles left on the ground can not germinate and do not spill seeds. Loosening the earth on the plot infected with mokrez, it will have to be repeated every 10-15 days, then new plants will not have time to develop.

To continue the fight against this vicious weed will also have to continue after the harvest. As long as the weather is warm, the plant will continue to multiply and germinate. And also scatter seeds that will germinate next spring.

Earlier OBOZREVATEL told how to get rid of dandelion on the homestead plot.

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