Fox tail

Question form Jake: Fox tail has taken over my lawn in the back yard. I have a grazing tortoise that lives back there so using toxic weed killer is out of the question. Is there any solution? What would you suggest? Answer from Pat: Several grasses...

Weed Control

Question from Tricia: First I wanted to say I’m very thankful for your knowledge and expertise in this field that I have very little of. I met you once a few years ago at a horticultural society meeting, and purchased 2 of your books. I would love...

Controlling Goathead Thorn

Question from Joy: I live in El Cajon, Calif. We have a weed here that we call a “goathead”. Do you know what it actually is? and how I can get rid of them? We call use that name becaause the sticker looks like a rock with 2 horn....

Self-Sowers & Plant Volunteers

I once asked my gardener Raymundo why he never weeds. “Because in your garden, Senora,” he replied, “you can ‘t tell the difference between a weed and a flower!” He had notice d that in our mild Southern California climate many garden plants...

Pernicious Weeds

In my opinion the three most pernicious weeds in this area are common Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), purple or yellow nutsedge (Cyperus sp.) and creeping oxalis (Oxalis stricta and O. corniculata). I choose these three is because they seem most difficult...