[MAIPC] Stellaria media

[Susan Gitlin]

Jim, Andrew Rohrbaugh sent me this link to a California publication:
https://ucanr.edu/sites/sjcoeh/files/77078.pdf
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucanr.edu%2Fsites%2Fsjcoeh%2Ffiles%2F77078.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Canrohrbaug%40pa.gov%7Cf2afb0e216d1463752a008d890803c33%7C418e284101284dd59b6c47fc5a9a1bde%7C0%7C1%7C637418228181689074%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=A8NSlK8FHVrWCKLWoylOlCFu5HxY3HqmyTfjNkz52A8%3D&reserved=0>
It says:  "When growing without competition from other plants, common
chickweed can produce approximately 800 seeds and it takes 7 to 8 years for
the seed bank (supply of viable seeds in soil) to be 95% depleted, insuring
an infestation for many years."

On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 1:33 PM Jim Hurley <jehurley at mindspring.com> wrote:

> Mark,
>
> Are you aware of any literature on the length of chickweed's seedbank?
>
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Frey
> Sent: Nov 25, 2020 6:15 AM
> To: Susan Gitlin
> Cc: MAIPC Listserve
> Subject: Re: [MAIPC] Stellaria media
>
> Susan
>
> That is a good question. Especially in floodplain forests where there is
> extra disturbance there are a handful of weeds that I associate with lawns
> (especially chickweed, veronica, and creeping charlie) that can grow very
> thickly in some areas. These all seem to take advantage of the early spring
> sunlight and are therefore growing while the spring ephemerals are active.
> Anecdotally it seems like they are competing with the natives so I would
> consider treating. Luckily chickweed is relatively easy to kill with a
> glyphosate or triclopyr foliar application. The fall is likely a good time
> to treat because there will be fewer non-target plants in leaf.
>
> Mark
>
> On Mon, Nov 23, 2020 at 6:45 PM Susan Gitlin <
> susan.mclaughlin at alumni.stanford.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hello.  My property in Rockbridge County, VA is heavily infested with
>> chickweed.  Where grasses are tall and thick, the chickweed stays at bay,
>> but the floor of my wooded area -- about 5 acres -- is green as far as the
>> eye can see. It starts to appear in the early fall and sticks around until
>> spring. (I am assuming this represents multiple generations, although I
>> could be wrong.) Moreover, anywhere that I disturb the soil during the warm
>> months in the interest of getting rid of any number of invasives, Stellaria
>> media shows up in the fall.  Should I even bother battling it?  If so, how?
>>
>> Thanks for any suggestions that you can provide.
>>
>> --Susan Gitlin
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>>
>
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