If the rose symbolizes love and the lily represents purity, then purslane should be the plant that symbolizes persistence. With succulent style green leaves and thick red stems, this weed grows rapidly over the landscape. Purslane will thrive even in environments where other plants struggle, which makes it a big problem for the homeowner who is trying to establish a new lawn.
Make Peace with Purslane?
Purslane is a completely edible, highly nutritious plant. In much of the world, purslane is collected as a vegetable. It’s a favorite of foragers and you can find it in more than a few local gardens. One way to deal with the purslane in your landscape is to harvest it for your family or to share with area friends who enjoy wild foods. Because Mother Nature operates the way she does, developing a taste for purslane may be the best way to ensure it never grows in your yard again.
Can You Pull Purslane?
In the hopes of achieving a weed free lawn, many homeowners have tried hand pulling the purslane from the landscape. And this is a very satisfying experience. One single purslane plant covers a large area so you can really feel like you’re accomplishing something with very little effort. Clearing the purslane isn’t the tricky bit. It’s keeping the purslane from coming back.
You see, purslane doesn’t need much of a presence to develop into another plant. A tiny seed or speck of stem or root left behind and guess what – before too long, your purslane is back. Experienced gardeners will tell you that after pulling the purslane, you have to put it in a black bag, bury it, put a tarp over the spot and bury the tarp with more earth. This won’t stop the purslane from coming back, but at least you’ll know you tried.
What Really Works To Get Rid of Purslane?
Purslane elimination means embracing the power of chemistry. Your local lawn service can provide you with what’s known as pre-emergent weed control. This is a ground treatment that deprives plants from what they need to achieve life before they actually grow at all. In this part of Massachusetts, pre-emergent weed control treatment for purslane should happen in spring and mid-summer.
