What is dodder weed and how to deal with it
Dodder weed belongs to the group of parasitic plants. This is the most dangerous species that lives in trees, bushes and feeds on them. The weed differs not only in its appearance, but also in the method of reproduction. To get rid of the parasite once and for all, you need to know some secrets and follow certain rules.
Dodder weed: plant description
Dodder is a poisonous plant. From other weeds she differs in the absence of roots and leaves. The weed is fastened using special suction cups, deeply penetrating the tissue of culture.
Dodder seeds are able to maintain their excellent germination for 10 years.
This feature of the weed makes it the most dangerous. Dodder reproduces very quickly and adapts well to various climates conditions. One adult liana is able to wrap itself up to 6m2.
The homeland of the plant is the lands of Africa and America. It was with these countries, it spread throughout the world, changing according to the weather conditions.
Dodder stems are abundantly covered with small flowers of greenish, pinkish and snow-white shades. In their place, fruits in the form of boxes are formed. Each of them contains several seeds. Grains can be oval or round with a dense, rough shell.
Dodder affects:
- shrubs;
- trees;
- herbs;
- vineyards;
- legumes.
In nature, there are about 200 species of dodder that can be found on any continent. They all feed on water and nutrients found in plants. Thus, the metabolism of bushes and grasses is disturbed, they begin to lose their attractiveness and wither.
Dodder slows down the growth of crops and impairs the quality of the fruit.
Effective control methods
If a dodder appears on the site, do not immediately resort to treating plants with chemicals. There are folk methods that will help get rid of this weed once and for all.
The main danger is not shoots, but seeds, which are able to maintain their germination for a long time. Therefore, in order to get rid of the parasite, you will need to direct all your strength to prevent the weed from spreading.
If dodder shoots are observed on the culture, then the plant is recommended to be pulled out along with the roots and burned.
Ways to cleanse soil infested with weed seeds:
- Dig up the bed thoroughly. This is an effective method, as the grains can only germinate in the upper soil layer. Therefore, the deeper you hide the seeds, the more likely they are not to grow.
- Stimulate the growth of dodder kernels. This will require in the fall and spring, 2 weeks before planting crops, water the soil abundantly. And as soon as the first shoots appear, they will need to be removed.
- Plant on the site those plants that the weed does not feed on. These crops include oats and wheat.
If there are no vegetable plants near the young dodder for two weeks, the weed will die by itself.
When dodder grows in meadows, the grass is mowed down until the weed has bloomed. Otherwise, it will quickly sprout new shoots.
Infected herbs do not dry very well. Most often, they become moldy, which leads to various diseases of livestock. Dodder is also capable of carrying various viral infections.In addition, it contains alkaloids that negatively affect the health of cattle.
Dodder herbicides
You can also use commercially available drugs to fight the parasite. Esters and ethylhexyl salts are excellent options. They are used if you want to get rid of weed grains that are in the soil. Add drugs to the soil together with saltpeter or ammonium sulfate. But it should be remembered that the site must be absolutely clean. Vegetable crops should not grow on it, otherwise they will dry out just like dodder.
Glyphosates are equally effective. They need apply only after abundant watering and before planting the main crops. Also glyphosates are applied in the fall. But after the whole crop has been harvested.
If the dodder appeared in the garden with tomatoes, peppers or potatoes, then an excellent option is "Reitar", "Bayer", Gezagard ". All of them are able to destroy the weed at the very beginning of its development, which is very important.
Other herbicides are equally effective. For carrots use "Stomp". Also helps with this problem "Titus" and "Targa".
Dodder is a dangerous parasite that is difficult to remove, but possible. If you follow all the recommendations and rules, then a positive result will not be long in coming.