tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post7435052445095191182..comments2023-12-08T18:28:11.330+10:00Comments on Australian Portulaca: Portulaca pilosaGrey_Gumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01318944992661031958noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-49102976461129977862019-01-05T12:36:54.980+10:002019-01-05T12:36:54.980+10:00A DISCLAIMER and a kindly word to those intending ...A DISCLAIMER and a kindly word to those intending to leave comments.<br /><br />The comments section is moderated which means I get to pick and choose which posts get published and which do not.<br /><br />I sometimes receive comments related to summer-active weeds. Although most of these comments have been genuine inquiries, a few have unfortunately been snide in their intent. I generally just delete any ill-informed remarks like the following example: "So you grow weeds in your garden?".<br /><br />I also will not reply to requests like "How can I get rid of this plant out of my lawn?". I am sorry but I do not offer advice on the control of weeds.<br /><br />The definition of a weed is often a very subjective thing. In my experience, the weedy Portulaca species almost always prefer bare ground. Some of the species are summer "pioneer" species that take rapid advantage of a lack of competition brought about by bare earth. So if your lawn is infested with one of these species it more than likely means you have bigger problems than just pig weed. Portulaca seldom do very well if there is any kind of competition from lawn grasses or other plants that shade them out. So your problem, if it could really be called that, is most likely related to drought or grubs/fungus killing patches out of your lawn. So rather than blame the weed that you think is taking you over, you may need to take a closer look at your horticultural practices. If you use a whipper snipper or mow without a catcher for instance well you are just going to throw the seeds about and scatter them far and wide.<br /><br />You can spray the weeds, but that will only defeat the purpose by opening up the ground even more. It will let in more light and reduce competition, so by spraying all you do is put yourself back to square one. Also most chemical sprays result in negative effects like drift and are not very successful on succulent weeds like Portulaca in any case. The plants die slowly and can still set seed and occasionally the wilted branches will recover, take root and re-grow. Nevertheless there are chemicals which offer good control and I can only advise that people see their local chemical supplier, hardware store, or Department of Agriculture for advice on the most appropriate chemical to use in your situation.<br /><br />Most Australian farmers know the scourge of Portulaca oleracea only too well. I know from experience that it can be a nuisance plant that covers entire ploughed paddocks in summer, particularly those left fallow due to an absence of rainfall. And if you do get rainfall it reproduces and grows extremely quickly. By the time the paddock has dried out enough for you to get a tractor in there, the pigweed has well and truly taken over. It can form such massive beds that I have seen it clog farm implements repeatedly, meaning a lot of down time for farmers who have to stop and clear the great mass of tangled strands off their ploughs.<br /><br />But if people read these pages carefully, they should see that it mainly taxonomic and horticultural in its approach. So providing advice on weed control is outside the scope of this blog and therefore not really relevant. If people wish to examine this subject in more depth I am sure there are plenty of websites on the internet that deal exclusively with weeds and can provide the answers that you seek. Grey_Gumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318944992661031958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-71496253645967391632018-11-02T11:08:09.403+10:002018-11-02T11:08:09.403+10:00Thank you for sharing this information. I found th...Thank you for sharing this information. I found this little wonder this morning while walking my children to school. I have a side yard at home that grass has trouble growing in and I have started planting ground covers that I find growing wild in les than hospital places. This one looks ideal for my needs here in Brisbane.Daisy Hedgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982136816112838085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-38883872776554305892014-02-19T20:08:39.325+10:002014-02-19T20:08:39.325+10:00Would be great if we could trade but I think we ca...Would be great if we could trade but I think we cannot send plants to Australia ya :(. <br />wendikaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00840068557646158738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-20615731308223000542014-02-17T22:00:18.158+10:002014-02-17T22:00:18.158+10:00Thank you for sharing the photos! Yes lots of inte...Thank you for sharing the photos! Yes lots of interesting variation among these different species and cultivars. Grey_Gumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318944992661031958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-33212157347411633222014-02-17T17:23:06.528+10:002014-02-17T17:23:06.528+10:00WE have lots of variety here in Malaysia - some I&...WE have lots of variety here in Malaysia - some I've posted here.<br />https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.254137558087042.1073741837.188142281353237&type=1wendikaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00840068557646158738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-38868145899124909472014-02-13T20:39:53.636+10:002014-02-13T20:39:53.636+10:00I found these growing here in Malaysia. So pretty ...I found these growing here in Malaysia. So pretty by the road :)wendikaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00840068557646158738noreply@blogger.com