My neighbor has a bunch growing on the side of his garage between it and our common fence - this stuff is running amuck in my garden, want to know how you all keep it contained. I do not mind it as long as it stays on his side of the fence. This is the same neighbor that poured his used oil into an old compost heap in the back corner (next to me). Figure he should be making amends for the environmental damage. Any help is appreciated.
Nadine
Milkweed just how important ?
I don't keep it contained cause the Monarch butterflies do it for me, but if you pick the pods off before they burst it should help. Karen
Same here, the cats keep it contained. It's kind of funny to see two cats fighting over a 4 inch seedling's last leaf!
I like to pick the seeds and plant them where I want them to grow instead of letting the wind blow them around.
So I do not get it - why are they not demolishing them, I do not use any "chemicals" they (the milkweed) is becoming a tad evasive. Do they use a different host plant for some stage in their development that may not be present...just getting into a "bio-diverse" environment for my birds, hummers and down the road dragon flies, or maybe SLC, UT is not home to Monarchs (excuse my ignorance I am not native to the states).
Maybe we should ask what kind of milkweed is it?
The monarchs LOVE asclepias curassavica(Mexican milkweed and tropical) http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/johnson/hort/Butterfly/MonarchButterfly1.htm
The flower is more pink and the stem definitely oozes a milky substance, did a web search not sure EXACTLY what type just like I said pink flowers not yellow or orange.
The taproot goes to China and the leave shape is right. Just not sure WHAT type of Asclepias it is thinking maybe speciosa. Again thanks for the input.
Already have 3 MAJOR invasives to deal with as long as this one has some benefit....thinking of using round up on my crab?/bermuda grass and on the morning glory (have not ID'd the 3rd one yet just reared its ugly heads en masse) will round up hurt cat's? I would be VERY specific what I actually sprayed (just the 2 - grass and the glory) and until I ID the 3rd one I am just using a solarizing technique on the 3rd. Again thanks...
I would rip out the problem pink milkweed and plant something that would make both the gardener and the butterflies happy. A more mild mannered milkweed like A. curassavica should do the trick. Just be prepared to have it stripped to the stems when the monarchs find it.
Thanks for the info, thats just want I needed. Thanks
Nadine
I am doing my best to get some good milkweek started for the monarchs. I saw my first monarch of the year last week.
I know there must be some wild milkweed around because last year I had so many of them feeding at my lantantas and Mexican butterfly weed. (I found they don't like this one too much as a host plant.)