Gardening: Now is perfect time to tackle those weeds

Robust. That is how I'd characterize the weeds I found growing among the daffodils. And now is the time to get them under control.

While cutting back the season's first dried daffodil blossoms, I came across several large plants sprawling among the daffodil leaves. Small scalloped, round leaves were set opposite each other on square stems. Little purple flowers were peeking through the foliage at the top of the sprigs. My daffodil bed had been invaded by henbit.

Lamium amplexicaule is the scientific name for this pest. Introduced from Eurasia and North Africa, it has spread throughout North America. Henbit prefers the moist, amended soils common in lawns, vegetable gardens and flower beds, but it also is at home in wheat fields and other crop areas.

Square stems that are hugged by leaves on both sides are an identifying feature. Leaf pairs alternate at 90-degree angles up the stem. A member of the mint family, henbit resembles the ornamental plant, Lamium purpureum, or purple deadnettle. Young plants have shallow, fibrous roots emanating from the base, but as the stems sprawl about, they can root from the lower nodes as well. A single plant can sprawl to a width of 12 to 15 inches in diameter.

Henbit is a winter annual. Last fall, seeds of the plant germinated and then lay dormant during the winter. As the soil warmed this spring, the plants sprouted and are now flowering in late April or early May. The half-inch flowers that form are pink to purple in color and are shaped like tiny trumpets. The good news is the plants will die during the heat of summer. The bad news is their demise will come after each plant has produced up to 200 seeds.

Given the number of seeds the plants are able to produce, early intervention makes sense. Henbit is easily controlled by hand pulling or hoeing, especially when the soil is moist. If it is growing in a turf area, a healthy stand of grass will often provide enough competition to prevent the weed's establishment. Mowing the flowers off before they have a chance to produce seed also is beneficial. In flower beds and borders, a thick layer of clean, organic mulch will help keep most of the seeds from germinating.