It is a great time to start identifying and managing common vetch before it flowers and sets seed. Common vetch begins growing early in the season, making it easier to spot among slower-to-emerge native plants. The soft, moist soil of spring also makes it a good time to hand-pull this fast-growing weed before it takes over open spaces or competes with desired vegetation.
Crown vetch (Securigera varia) is a fast-growing annual or short-lived perennial legume that spreads by seed. It has sprawling stems, tendrils for climbing, and compound leaves with 4–8 pairs of leaflets. The plant is known for its attractive purple to violet pea-like flowers, which bloom in late spring to early summer. Though often planted as a cover crop due to its nitrogen-fixing properties, it can easily escape cultivation and become weedy in natural areas, roadsides, and disturbed soils.
Crown vetch reproduces by seed, and each plant can produce dozens of seed pods. Once introduced to an area, it spreads rapidly and can outcompete native forbs and grasses, especially in prairies and open woodland edges. Its ability to climb and sprawl makes it especially problematic in areas where low-growing plants are trying to establish.
Control methods for Crown Vetch:
- Crown vetch can be effectively hand-pulled in spring when plants are young and soil is soft.
- Aim to remove the plants before they flower and set seed, typically in late spring.
- For larger infestations, repeated mowing or cutting can reduce seed production, though follow-up may be needed.
- Avoid disturbing the soil excessively during removal to prevent creating open ground for new vetch seeds to germinate.
- Pulled plants can be composted if they have not begun to seed; otherwise, bag and dispose of them to prevent spreading.