Rewilding My Lot

Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) is an invasive weed, although it can improve soil quality because of its nitrogen fixing properties, and most livestock will eat it. Plants of the genus Medicago are otherwise known as burclovers because they are related to other clovers and their seeds are highly barbed. Surely everyone at some point has collected these annoying prickly seeds on their socks or dogs.

Burclovers are notoriously hard to eliminate. Pulling up the plant usually leaves tap roots behind, and those clingy seeds are readily moved to new locations.

I have seeded other types of clover here, notably White Prairie Clover, so I intend to remove burclovers when I see them in the back yard at least. I will probably be less assertive in the front yard, beyond keeping it mown short. This plant appears often in this region, and elimination would not be practically possible.

To be absolutely certain that I’m not pulling up clover that I do want, I’m waiting until I see the little yellow flowers and then I pull the plant out with as much root as possible.