Guidelines for Eliminating Mugwort and Effective Measures for Mugwort Eradication
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Bonnie L. Grant, a professional landscaper with a Certification in Urban Gardening and a former professional chef with a passion for edible landscaping, offers advice on controlling Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), a perennial plant that favors ditches, fields, along roadsides and paths, and most disturbed areas.
Effective methods for controlling Mugwort include both organic and chemical approaches, with organic options often preferred for long-term soil health and safety.
Organic Control Methods
Hand pulling is one method for removing Mugwort, but it requires thorough removal of roots because the plant can regrow from root fragments.
Solarization is another effective organic control method. Cover the infested area with transparent plastic sheeting during the hottest months for 2-6 weeks. This raises soil temperature and kills Mugwort roots and seeds by heat, reducing regrowth while maintaining soil health better than opaque covers.
Regular cutting is another method that depletes root reserves and weakens the plants over time. This is labor-intensive but effective when combined with other methods.
Mulching with thick organic mulch can also suppress growth by blocking light and physically preventing sprouting.
Chemical Control Methods
While specific chemical herbicides for Mugwort are not cited in the search results, generally, broadleaf herbicides containing glyphosate or 2,4-D can be effective. Application should target foliage thoroughly when Mugwort is actively growing. Multiple treatments may be necessary due to its robust root system.
Careful use is needed to avoid damage to desirable plants. Always follow label instructions for environmental safety.
It's worth noting that chemical control should only be used as a last resort for Mugwort removal due to potential dermatological toxicity and environmental concerns.
Additional Notes
When crushed, the leaves of Mugwort produce a strong aroma, similar to sage. A healthy lawn in turfgrass is the best defense against Mugwort. Good garden hygiene and pest management aid overall plant health, indirectly helping control weeds.
Mugwort will spread through the root and underground stem system, and also from seed in warm regions. Spreading a black tarp or cardboard over an area can smother and kill Mugwort plants.
Controlling Mugwort using natural methods requires persistence, as it is a challenge due to its hardiness and spreading rhizomes, requiring patience and annual pulling.
Mugwort has no major herbal qualities but it has been used to flavor beer. Mugwort leaves resemble chrysanthemum leaves, with smooth, dark green upper leaves and a lighter green underside that is hairy. Mugwort is a member of the Artemisia family, with Sweet Annie being a common member.
In summary, the best organic approach is solarization combined with thorough hand removal and repeated cutting, while chemical control typically involves targeted herbicide application. Solarization is especially effective as it kills underground root parts responsible for regrowth without chemical impact.
In the home-and-garden setting, controlling Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) through organic methods includes hand removal, solarization, regular cutting, and mulching, as these approaches maintain soil health better than chemical interventions. For chemical control, while specific herbicides are not primarily cited, broadleaf herbicides containing glyphosate or 2,4-D can be effective, but they should be a last resort due to potential dermatological toxicity and environmental concerns.
