Fighting Dollarweed

I’ve been fighting a war in the garden for six years. The natives and I have differing opinions on how the territory should be cultivated. They refuse to abide by my laws; I have been repulsed by their disorder. They run deeper than my hands can penetrate. Their numbers are insurmountable. I refuse to use chemicals that end up destroying both them and the land I’ve won. I must compromise.

I made this decision sometime about two weeks ago while I stood in the eighty degree direct sunlight, sweating away in my straw hat and staring at the onslaught of Dollarweed. It has had a very healthy presence on my property long before I arrived on it. In my town, it seems to have a very healthy presence everywhere that hasn’t been sprayed with Roundup. I read an article which advised that when it is abundant, the gardener is over-watering. I suspect that, as many things to do with gardening, there is an exception for Florida.

I first saw Dollarweed as a child in my neighbor’s backyard. My first thought was that it looked like a fairy’s umbrella. I kind of wanted to pick some to take home to play with. It wasn’t until adulthood that we had a falling-out.

I find that it grows a somewhat sallow green on my weak soil composed of basically Florida sand and a small amount of organic matter—but it multiplies voraciously. It grows a rich forest green on top of the pile of fresh chicken poop stored in my garden. It also is present in the sand dunes at the beach. And apparently one variety enjoys a peaceful float on top of the water in the local ponds. Truly, this plant is a survivor. I respect that.

I also recently read that it is edible. This fact is a little bit humorous, as I have not had the best of luck growing lettuce, but always have lots of Dollarweed popping up next to it. I can imagine the Dollarweed crying out “Pick me! Pick me!”, while I turn my snobbish head away to eat my bolted-too-soon lettuce that taste like some sort of bitter poison.

My decision to compromise is based on more than the exhausting eradication efforts of my hands. With exposed ground, the summer sun turns my garden to a parched desert. With the Dollarweed constantly trying to move back in, it is unrealistic to lay down hay or mulch. Dollarweed laughs in the face of ground coverings. The Dollarweed could, in theory, be my groundcover.

I have no idea what impact having them get nice and cozy will have on my vegetables. This will be an experiment. So the war is over here in the garden, but in the flowerbeds, it rages on…

Here is a bit of Dollarweed snuggling in with the cabbage