Yarrowis a perennial plant that commonly grows on fields and wastelands, considered by many to be a nuisance weed. For the gardener, however, yarrow can be a real treasure. It is worth appreciatinghealing properties of yarrowand using it to prepare preparations against plant diseases and pests.The use of yarrow in the gardencan be very wide - from planting to protect plants against pathogens, to cultivation for ornamental purposes. See what possibilities this amazing herb offers!
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Fig. AnRo0002, CCO license, Wikimedia Commons
Yarrow - description
Yarrow(Achillea millefolium) is a species from the Asteraceae family. It can be a perennial or take the form of a semi-shrub 50-80 cm high. The stiff stems are covered with numerous pinnate, lanceolate leaves, and the flowers are gathered in umbellate inflorescences appearing at the top of the shoot. The plant blooms white or pink from June to October. There are alsogarden varieties of yarrowwith orange, red, cherry or purple flowers.
As an expansive plant that grows intensively from underground rhizomes, yarrow is commonly considered a weed. In horticulture, selective herbicides such as Mniszek 540 SL are used to control yarrow on lawns , which destroy dicotyledonous weeds without damaging the lawn itself. However, before we reach for a herbicide, it is worth considering whether it is better to carry out
harvesting yarrow for herbal raw materiali, using its valuable healing properties or allocating it to the production of ecological macerates for diseases and pests plants.
How to collect yarrow herb?
As a herbal raw materialharvest both leaves and flowers of yarrow , cutting the plants 10 cm above the ground during the flowering period, from June to September. It is best to cut plants from well-sunny positions, because then they contain the most essential oils. In order to dry, the harvested material is spread out in a thin layer and dried in a shaded and airy place.The raw material of yarrow is driedalso in the oven at up to 35 ° C. The dried herb should be protected from light.Before we discuss the possibilities of using yarrow herb, it is worth knowing that for allergy sufferers it may be an allergenic plant.Fortunately, yarrow allergies are quite rare.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Fig. pixabay.com
Yarrow - healing properties
Yarrow is rich in essential oils with bacteriostatic properties(azulene, cineole, borneol). It also contains choline, flavonoid compounds, bitterness, tannins, vitamin C and mineral s alts (mainly zinc and magnesium). These compounds influencedvaluable healing properties of yarrow
In natural medicine,yarrow is used to treatgastrointestinal disorders, lack of appetite, flatulence and intestinal cramps, indigestion and peptic ulcer disease. For this purpose, yarrow infusions and freshly squeezed juice are used. Externally, yarrow is sometimes used to relieve inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes and in the form of compresses as a means of accelerating wound healing.
Yarrow can also be used in the kitchenas an addition to sauces and soups. Its young leaves are used, which are characterized by a bitter, spicy taste.
It is also worth mentioningthe use of yarrow in cosmetics , where yarrow extract is added to soothing and regenerating masks, creams and face lotions.We gardeners are probably most interested in the usefulness of this plant in the garden.
Yarrow - use in the garden
Yarrow can be used in many ways in the garden. Recently,decorative varieties of yarrow , which are planted in flower beds, are more and more appreciated. It is worth doing this, because yarrow growing in the vicinity of other plants increases their resistance to diseases. The herbal raw materialyarrow should be grown in the herb garden , where it also positively influences the aroma of other herbs. The addition of yarrow leaves to the compost is a way to speed up the composting process.
We can also prepare ecological plant protection products from yarrow - extract, decoction and infusion.
Yarrow extract- 1 kg of fresh herb or 100 g of dried yarrow is poured over with 10 liters of water and left for 24 hours. Then we strain through a double layer of gauze and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:10. We spray plants against diseases such as: powdery mildew, brown rot of stone pits, leaf blotches, peach leaf curl. It is used preventively from the beginning of the flowering phase of fruit trees and after observing disease symptoms. The extract should be used immediately after preparation.
Yarrow decoction- 1 kg of fresh or 100 g of dried yarrow plants are poured with 10 liters of water and set aside for 24 hours (until then everything is done in the same way as in the case of the extract), and then boiled for 30 minutes . Cooking allows you to keep the stock in closed jars for up to 3 months (you need to close the jars when the stock is hot).A decoction of yarrow can be used against pests of fruit trees and brassica vegetables. We fight it against aphids, honeys, larvae of bedbugs, caterpillars eating leaves (caterpillars of leaf-eating caterpillars, caterpillars of cabbage and cruciferous moth in the cultivation of cruciferous vegetables).
Yarrow infusion- 1 kg of fresh or 100 g of dried yarrow herb is poured over with 5 liters of hot water and left for 12 hours. Use in the same way as in the case of the yarrow decoction.
