The Newest Way to Rid Your Forney Area Lawn of Aggravating Weeds

There they are again, sticking out like a sore thumb. Those darn weeds. No matter how well you take care of your lawn, they always come back, and their sprouting seems to never end. As soon as spring arrives here in Forney, Texas, these devious plants begin to snuff out your grass, robbing it of its nutrients and sunlight. Every home and business owner’s worst nightmare, we spend millions of dollars every year trying to figure out how to rid our landscapes of these insidious beings.

But there’s a new way to rid your lawn of them for good. How is that, you say? By adding them to your dinner menu. Yes, believe it or not, most weeds are edible. So maybe this is not the best solution. However, if you are planning for an upcoming apocalypse, or want to prepare for the next pandemic, never fear, the weeds amongst your outdoor property can be eaten. In many other countries, weeds are considered medicinal and are used for their healing abilities. Here are the most common weeds in the Forney area that can also be part of your next meal.

Henbit

A member of the mint family, it is an annual broadleaf weed that sprouts in the fall and grows throughout the winter and early spring. Henbit is commonly confused with purple deadnettle, also edible because it has greenish to purple square stems. It grows to be approximately 16 inches tall and sprouts reddish-purple flowers with darker coloring in spots on its lower petals. It received its name because it was often used as chicken feed. Its often used to control erosion in many cropland fields here in the south. It can grow just about anywhere, including along roadsides, in pastures, wastelands, gardens, and on your grass.

You can consume it fresh or cooked, and many people use it in herbal teas. The stem, flowers, and leaves are all edible, and it offers crazy amounts of nutritional benefits. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It is stated to help with fever, achy joints, arthritis, and constipation. You can add it raw to salads, soups, wraps, sandwiches, and smoothies. While it’s in the mint family, those who have tried it say it does not taste like mint at all. Most say it has a sweet, pepper flavor. Others say it tastes like kale. We’ll let you be the judge on this one.

Chickweed

Chickweed is a winter annual that also gets its name because it was originally used as chicken fodder. It grows mainly in moist, shaded areas. It begins to appear during the cooler temperatures of late fall and dies in early spring. The wiry but succulent stems of chickweed can grow up to a foot and a half, and its oval-shaped leaves grow in pairs. It produces small white flowers that resemble a carnation.

Like henbit, you can eat it cooked or raw, and all of the weed is edible. Chickweed is considered a super plant by those who eat it. It is full of nutritional value and high in vitamins B, C, and A as well as a host of other minerals. Many say it is delicious tasting, similar to spinach. When eaten raw, it is said to taste like cornsilk. It can be eaten in salads, soups, put into sandwiches and wraps, or even added to stews.

It is still used for medicinal purposes in other parts of the world, including anti-inflammatory and pain relievers, digestive support, kidney support, and skin treatment. When applied topically, it is used as a cooling and drying agent. It has a long history of treating skin afflictions like acne, rashes, psoriasis, minor burns, and insect bites.

Clover

If you see little white flowers in your Forney area lawn, surrounded by bees, you probably have clover. It usually sprouts in the fall and has small flowers that are usually white, pink, red, or yellow. Part of the pea family, its leaves give off a distinct scent. It is a low-growing plant that pretty much grows anywhere. Nutritionists and dieticians say it is high in phosphorous, calcium, protein, beta-carotene, and vitamins B and C. According to our sources, clover can help the lymphatic system in our bodies and help improve our blood.

If you want to try it out, most people who eat this weed add it to salads or saute it and add it to dishes for decorative effects. Pinterest has recipes for roasting the flowers, while others use them in tea. We are told that while both the flower and leaves are edible, the leaves are not that tasty.

Dandelions

Everybody’s least favorite weed, is the dandelion! This bright yellow weed sticks out on a lush green lawn making even those the least bit compulsive, mad with fury. Dandelions are perennial weeds with jagged leaves that germinate through the spread of their seeds just below the soil’s surface. They start to grow when the temperature remains consistently over fifty degrees. They are one of the most challenging weeds to control, but the amount of health benefits they offer is said to be tremendous. These devious buggers contain a large number of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. They also include a high amount of vitamins A, B, C, E, and K and are full of antioxidants. For many years, dandelions were used for their medicinal purposes throughout the world to help reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, control blood sugar, fight cancer, and support healthy bones.

Every part of the dandelion is edible, and it can be eaten cooked or raw. The flowers are said to be sweet and crunchy and can be eaten raw or breaded and fried. Many people use flowers to make dandelion syrup or wine. The roots can be used as a coffee substitute, and the leaves as a substitute for lettuce.

Stop Weeds From Invading Your Lawn With Effective Weed Control From Lawn Lab

If you’re not entirely sold on the idea of adding weeds to your dinner menu, that’s ok. Neither are we. At Lawn Lab, we understand how destructive weeds can be to a healthy lawn, and we’ll professionally apply weed control methods that work. You can say goodbye to battling the weed issue in your grass, and instead, enjoy relaxing in your beautiful yard. We work with residential homes and commercial businesses and offer customized lawn care programs to fit the unique needs of your lawn in the Forney, TX area. From fertilization to surface insect control, we do it all. Contact us now and learn more about all of our programs, including preventing and eliminating weeds for you. Rather speak to someone right away? Give us a call at 1-972-284-0704.

Want more information on all things lawn care, landscaping, and pest control? Follow our blog and read up on our other articles.