What is Stinkweed and How to Kill it?

Stinkweed comes in two varieties, both of which are annuals. One starts developing in the spring and can become an issue throughout summer. The other blooms throughout the autumn and winter. Both weeds require the same treatment. Plants of stinkweed start as a low cluster of leaves. Stems extend out from the rosette’s center, eventually supporting branches with clusters of little white flowers. After the petals have faded, flat, feathered seed pods grow.

Key takeaways:

• Each plant may generate 15,000 to 20,000 seeds that can survive for up to 20 years in the soil.
• It’s simple to see why getting rid of stinkweed before the plants go to seed is so important.
• Even though Stinkweed seems like something to detest, it is one of the most effective treatments! Stinkweed (Artemisia tilesii) is sometimes known as Wormwood or Wild Sage.

This plant has a unique odor, as its name suggests. It’s tough to put into words, but even harder to forget. Reach out and softly stroke one of the leaves while you’re at the front of the plant. Unlike the majority of the other plants on our field tour, Sargiq is not recommended for human consumption. In small doses, it can be consumed as tea or as spices.

What is Stinkweed?

Stinkweed may be used as a tea, poultice, salve, oil, or simply dry. It can also be used as a soak. Tea can be consumed to alleviate cold symptoms and stomach discomfort. To help pull out infections, decrease scar tissue, and hasten the healing process, a poultice of leaves, salve, or oil can be applied directly to wounds or injuries. Throughout the winter, salves can be used to hydrate chapped hands.

Dried leaves may be stuffed into pillows and placed under hurting joints to provide relief. It is said that this aids in the treatment of arthritis. Alternatively, they may be placed in shoes to aid in the drying process while also eliminating bacteria that may be generating odors. Athletes’ feet can also be treated with this. stinkweed is still used in some parents’ diapers.

It’s also known as wormwood since it’s been used to get rid of intestinal worms in animals in the past. Drinking tea daily may help those with roundworms or pinworms. According to some studies, wormwood may be beneficial to persons suffering from malaria.

What a wonderful plant! It’s no surprise that stinkweed is by far the most often used medicinal herb in the area!

Biology

This weed is grown once a year or it is a winter annual. It is reproduced by seed. The plant does not smell good, especially when its leaves are crushed. The stems are smooth, straight, 5-60cm high, and usually branched. The lower leaves can be in the shape of a rose. In straight plants, the leaves of the plants are alternate sides and without hairs. The upper leaves are wrapped around the stem. The plant has small, stalked flowers and white petals. Per plant of Stinkweed can produce up to 15,000 seeds. In the tillage zone, the seeds can live for up to 6 years. Seeds that are placed deeper than the tillage can live up to 20 years and begin to grow when they come close to the surface. The dormancy of the seed is enhanced by a thick seed coat. In the early spring, the growth of summer annuals occurs. The seeds of winter annuals begin to grow ( germinate) in late summer. The seedlings pass the winter season and continue to grow in the spring season. 

Killing The Stinkweed

The chemical components glyphosate and 2,4-D are included in a broad range of herbicides that destroy stinkweed. Most plants are killed by these herbicides, and they aren’t as safe to use as we formerly assumed. You have no choice but to pick up the weeds since you don’t want to utilize them near your garden plants.

Fortunately, stinkweed is easy to remove. If bending and crouching hurt your back and knees, use a hoe. Wear gloves to prevent your hands from stretching and dispose of the weeds once you’ve finished pulling them.

Stinkweed is crowded out and discouraged by a vigorous, healthy lawn. Follow a fertilization schedule that is appropriate for the sort of turf grass you’re cultivating and your location. A local garden center can assist you in choosing the appropriate supplies and creating a timetable. In the lack of rain, water once a week.

Mow regularly to keep the weeds from flowering. Most experts advocate cutting often enough that you never eliminate more than one-third of the grass blade length each time you mow. This should be sufficient to inhibit the production of blooms and seed pods.

Stinkweed Control

Cultural control

A good way to remove Stinkweed is to prepare the land that is infested during the fall. The plants that are grown in late summer or fall, then it’s very difficult to get rid of them next spring. 

Chemical Control:

The most effective way to take control of Stinkweed is in the fall when the plant is weak and vulnerable.

Where does it currently grow?

Stinkwart(Dittrichia graveolens) is one of the most extensively found weeds in the southern part of Australia, found in the cool to warm temperate areas. With respect to climate, a temperate, Mediterranean-type, climate is suitable for Stinkwort along with annual rainfall of 300-800mm falling mainly in winter. While in warmer, sub-humid areas, and arid areas Stinkworth can persist, these climate zone looks very marginal, outside of the preferred ecological zone. It grows completely in open disturbed places like overgrazed grasslands, vacant lots, and roadsides, mainly on light-textured and sandy soils. It usually grows in bare sites where there is less competition or poor growth of other plants. It also can be found on river flats, grazing lands, and railway reserves, with a choice for depression (jeans 1999, Parsons and Cuthbertson 2001, National  Herbarium of Victoria 2007).

Some Facts About Stinkweed

According to a recent study, a common agricultural weed might generate a “greener” jet fuel with lesser production-related environmental problems than other biofuels.

According to the study, growing the weed pennycress – often known as stinkweed – as a crop requires lower fertilizer and pesticides than other plants that may be used to create sustainable jet fuel. Pennycress also requires fewer agricultural activities than other possible biofuel crops, such as soil tilling, lowering related environmental costs. Carbon dioxide emissions, which cause climate change, as well as other pollutants that damage the air, are among these expenses.

The study implies that farm management strategies that retain fertilizer on fields rather than letting it flow off into surrounding watersheds might further decrease environmental concerns. These strategies can increase the financial expense of raising crops while lowering their environmental impact.

About The Article

Stinkweed (Artemisia tilesii) is sometimes known as Wormwood or Wild Sage. Even though Stinkweed seems like something to detest, it is one of the most effective treatments! 

Stinkweed comes in two varieties, both of which are annuals. One starts developing in the spring and can become an issue throughout the summer. The other blooms throughout the autumn and winter. Both weeds require the same treatment. In this article, we discussed what stinkweed is and how to kill it.

FAQ’s