Got lots of weeds in your garden/lawn? Before hitting them with an herbicide or hoe, consider this: you might destroy some really effective helpers.
I woke up this morning to the same news everyone in our region was getting: it was going to be super-hot. And the day would feel all the more oppressive because of the high humidity. What fun.
Armed with that forecast, I pulled on my sunhat and garden gloves at 9:30AM. Too be honest, I don’t usually grab a hoe that early in the day, but I was feeling guilty. I’d ignored my small kitchen garden for over a week and I couldn’t even see my green peppers, never mind the seedling basil plants.
It took about 20 minutes, but I ended up picking a hefty bunch of common mallow (malva neglecta). This low-growing weed is everywhere. I’ll bet you a nickle its growing in the shade of some tree or shrub in your backyard or along your driveway. I’ll be making a cool tea with the leaves and whipping up a tincture with the roots. Historically, the root’s mucilaginous qualities have been valued for their soothing action on inflammation externally and internally.
Mallow stars in this Herbal Safari minute. Stay cool!