what is this Sandy ground weed

[kabic]

Saw this growing with alfalfa on Sandy Wisconsin ground and was curious what it was.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

Looks like a pennycress or a maybe a pepper weed?

Some scony guys should know! Stu-Whip?

 

[wiscwhip]

Ragweed

 

[MoBuckChaser]

That must be common Ragweed?

 

[wiscwhip]

Yes

 

[OakSeeds]

Deer like ragweed; it has substantial protein ... unfortunately, it can/will blow your nose!

 

[MoBuckChaser]

We deal with Giant Rageweed over here

 

[wiscwhip]

We have both here in West Central WI, the "common" type is quite common in our area though.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

We have both here in West Central WI, the "common" type is quite common in our area though.

We dont have much sand around us, maybe the common is adapted to light ground better?

 

[Native Hunter]

In my area it will grow in any ground. You see quite a bit every year, but this year is a bumper crop for it. I'm seeing more than usual growing in NWSGs.

 

[j-bird]

I have both in my area as well. Deer will browse both from what I have seen.....particularly when it's actively growing. I get a fair amount of it in my NWSG plantings which I consider a good thing.

 

[Ouachita]

Like J-bird I have seen quite a bit of deer browsing of the tips of ragweed. As a quail hunter I love seeing ragweed ( common or western) , it is the best food for quail you could plant. Brood cover and winter feed all in one. Annual lespedeza might match it for food preference. Marion lespedeza was the most product seed wise. I'm going to try to find some on Craigs list in SE KS and SW MO this January, missed it this March.

 

[Tap]

It grows well on my place. One year, it took over the bean plot that I protected with an E fence. When I removed the fence, the deer hammered the ragweed before the touched the beans.

 

[Trapper LM]

Yep on ragweed. Glad I'm not allergic.

 

[BradB]

If you have not seen it browsed look for some in a fertilized field or around fertilized tree plantings.I was cleaning around my trees last year and noticed every single one close to the fertilized area was chewed to a nub and 3 feet away they were untouched.

 

[Tree Spud]

I have seen giant ragweed browsed lightly; however, the real issues is that it can very quickly take over like an invaisive. I have an area that it would grow 8-9' tall and the stalk would get to 1.5' diameter. It shaded and choked out almost all other plants/grasses on a 5-6 acre area with plants growing 6-8" apart. After winter, I literally had to drag a 12' 4"x6" through the field to knock done the stalks.

 

[Native Hunter]

I have seen giant ragweed browsed lightly; however, the real issues is that it can very quickly take over like an invaisive. I have an area that it would grow 8-9' tall and the stalk would get to 1.5' diameter. It shaded and choked out almost all other plants/grasses on a 5-6 acre area with plants growing 6-8" apart. After winter, I literally had to drag a 12' 4"x6" through the field to knock done the stalks.

Does it provide good cover through the winter in your area? Sounds like it might do pretty well for cover....

 

[Tree Spud]

Does it provide good cover through the winter in your area? Sounds like it might do pretty well for cover....

Yes, but there was never any evidence of bedding. It could block wind, but stalks would tip over. The stalks are real hard and would limit deer access and travel.

Imagine a row of corn, with only 2" per row .... because it dominated and shaded everything out including grasses ... not very accomoding for bedding.

I spent many hours & $$ trying to eradicate ... be careful, very evasive ...

 

[Native Hunter]

Yes, but there was never any evidence of bedding. It could block wind, but stalks would tip over. The stalks are real hard and would limit deer access and travel.

Imagine a row of corn, with only 2" per row .... because it dominated and shaded everything out including grasses ... not very accomoding for bedding.

I spent many hours & $$ trying to eradicate ... be careful, very evasive ...

That's interesting. I have common ragweed everywhere but never noticed any giant until this year. It was only one or two plants at two places near the edge of a NWSG field. At one spot it was browsed early but eventually grew up well. I see it at other places nearby but just not on my place.

I was wondering about the value for cover, but it sounds like it would not be to good.

Thanks!