Look what appeared in a landscape I’m working on after I weeded and planted a groundcover (Liriope) that will eventually fill in enough to prevent weeds. Mugwort seeds have sprouted vigorously thanks to all that supposedly maintenance-reducing activity on my part. Sigh.
From Wiki I learned that “Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a perfect example of a plant whose virtues are not as well understood as the menace it creates in a garden.” Oh, so it has virtues? Do continue.
It is native to Eurasia but has been naturalized in North America since the early settlers. Its perennial and spreading growth habit facilitated by extensive rhizomes make it a troublesome pest in gardens, and it is considered to be one of the worst weeds by the American nursery industry. Capable of tolerating low mowing heights, it can invade lawns as well as landscapes, roadsides and agronomic settings.
Wiki then offered this up as mugwort’s virtues: “As a beneficial plant, its aromatic leaves, stems and underground parts are considered to possess many medicinal attributes,” with a list of its uses as a tincture, essential oil, salve and so on.
But enough about herbal medicine! We’re gardeners here and we need to face the challenges that mugwort presents in our gardens.
Eek! It’s one of those “extensive rhizomes” that Wiki told us about!
So what’s a gardener to do?
A little research yielded this sad advice about “controlling” the stuff. From West Virginia Extension. (Emphasis added.)
Mechanical removal is often time-consuming and rather ineffective; studies have shown that rhizomes regenerated even after two years of routine mowing. Integrating the application of a systemic herbicide along with mechanical methods is known to be effective.
Directed spray of a non-selective herbicide, such as glyphosate, or an application of the same with a handheld weed wiper is effective in landscapes. Use a 3% to 4% solution of a concentrated glyphosate formulation (Roundup concentrate) or a 33% solution of the same when applied using a weed wiper…
When left unattended, mugwort can be a tough weed in the garden to battle.
Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. Which leads to my next research project – what’s the least toxic herbicide that will work on it? 
Here’s another example of a rhizome from hell. (Or it can just go to hell. Either works.)
I’ll add that very few of the mugwort plants I dug up came with their roots fully attached like these example. Most of my weeding efforts left plenty of roots intact, to grow and thrive another day.
My weed of choice? Crabgrass!
So it may shock you but I’m declaring it, anyway: I’d trade the scourge of mugwort for any amount of crabgrass instead, happily! Though crabgrass has truly impressive abilities to cover ground, its roots are quite superficial. They’re so easy to pull – completely! – that it’s actually a pleasure to deal with them.
(Okay, not a pleasure I recommend to friends or put high on my list of weekend fun but if you’re an obsessive gardener like me, you probably get it.)
Gardeners, what are your most and least favorite weeds to pull? Or go crazy trying to rid your garden of, anyway. Coz the joke’s on us, right?
The WORST Weed I’m Working on? Mugwort! What’s Yours? originally appeared on GardenRant on October 7, 2022.
The post The WORST Weed I’m Working on? Mugwort! What’s Yours? appeared first on GardenRant.
