How Do You Combat Weeds While Growing Vegetables?

What are Weeds? 

According to Penn State Extension, weeds are plants that grow in a place where they are not supposed to. A simple example is when you plant lettuce in your garden, then, a few celery plants have grown too. Since you don’t intend to grow celery, then, it’s considered a weed, even though it’s another vegetable. 

Some plants that have no significant value to humans are also considered weeds. They have undesirable qualities that often threaten the existence of the plants in cultivation. 

Characteristics of Weeds

There are about 8,000 species of plants worldwide that possess the characteristics of a weed. However, only 200 to 250 species cause major trouble. To identify whether a plant has the potential to become a weed or not, there are certain characteristics to look for. 

Let us take a detailed look at some of them.

1. Production of a Huge Number of Seeds 

Abundant seed production is one major characteristic of a weed plant. Seeds are their way to produce new offspring. With more seeds, there’s a high potential for dispersal. Hence, they could easily populate an area and compete with your plants once they grow. 

For example, the pigweed produces approximately 117,000 seeds per weed. Imagine how abundant these seeds are!

2. Rapid and Wide Seed Dispersal 

Weed seeds transport easily from one place to another. They could reach distant places too. These seeds can cling, fly or float. So, don’t be surprised when you see a particular weed plant almost anywhere. 

3. Weed Seeds Can Remain Dormant For a Long Period 

Most weeds have dormant seeds. They remain viable or alive for a long time but are unable to germinate until the environmental condition becomes ideal. This gives them the advantage as they can easily grow in areas once the environment gets favorable. 

You’ve probably observed some weeds growing out of nowhere despite not seeing any of their mother plants around. Those must have come from dormant seeds lying beneath the soil.

4. Highly Adaptable To Changing Environments

Weeds are typically resilient. They can withstand changing conditions. They can even survive a harsh environment. Say for example, after a typhoon or flood occurrence, weeds will be the first to grow. 

5. Can Grow Anywhere Regardless of the Condition 

Since weeds can easily adapt to changing conditions, they’re also able to grow in almost any location. If you notice, in almost any place with soil, there are weeds present. They’re always there. 

6. Physical Structures for Protection 

Most weeds have unique physical characteristics that allow them to protect themselves from predators and grazing animals. They have thorns, spines, and even toxins. This mechanism allows them to remain undisturbed.

7. Can Survive Areas Disturbed by Humans 

Weeds can emerge even in areas where there’s human activity present.  For example, a patio that’s often walked by might have weeds on them. They even arise more rapidly than any plant cultivated in that land. 

Problems with Weeds

Weeds, like pests and diseases, are a real pain for every gardener. If weeds get out of control, they’ll bring lots of trouble to your garden. Let us take a look at some issues.

1. Competition for Resources 

Weeds are direct competitors of your crops for resources such as light, nutrients, water, space, and oxygen. Because they grow aggressively, they can consume the resources that are intended for the main plant that you’re growing. This results in reduced yield.

2. Unattractive

Most weeds are physically unattractive. Their appearance can ruin the aesthetic and therapeutic functions of your garden. Weeds are an eyesore. 

3. House Pests and Other Unwanted Organisms

Another problem with weeds is that they serve as shelter for many species of pests. They can serve as hosts for disease-causing organisms as well. Eventually, these pests and diseases will be transmitted into the planted crop.

4. Create Obstructions

Since weeds grow in unwanted places, they often create obstructions, hindering beneficial human activities. They can block roadways, and waterways especially when the growth gets out of control. Some species of weeds can grow so tall that it becomes difficult to pull them off manually.

5. Can Trigger Allergies and Poisoning

It is rare to encounter weeds that don’t have thorns and spikes. Oftentimes, these weeds can cause serious irritations, especially to those who have sensitive skin. Direct contact with weeds can lead to irritations and abrasions. 

Some of them contain toxic properties that could even harm the grazing animals.

Types of Weeds

There are two types of weeds that you must know according to Weed Warriors. These two broad categories classify what type of weed a certain species is depending on where it is located. 

Environmental Weeds

Environmental weeds are weed species that are a threat to the natural ecosystem of a certain place. In effect, they threaten the native plants growing in that area by competing with them. These species are invasive. They either invade terrestrial or aquatic habitats or even both.

Examples are Alligator weed, Cabomba, and Horsetails. 

Agricultural Weeds

Agricultural weeds are the weed species that compete with crops and livestock on agricultural land. Their presence limits the area for crop cultivation and grazing. This results in low crop productivity and livestock output.

Serrated tussock, Chilean needle grass, Skeleton weed, Ragwort, Paterson’s curse, and Blackberry are just a few identified agricultural weeds. 

Common Weed Species in Lawns and Gardens

Although there are many weed species worldwide, not all of them bring huge problems. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)

This species is an annual grass that grows mid-spring until summer but dies at the first frost in fall. However, make no mistake because they will again rise the next growing season as they’ve already sown seeds prior to their death. Their seeds can remain viable for up to 3 years. 

Crabgrass is a low-growing weed but when left undisturbed, it can grow up to 2 feet high.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

Purslane is in fact an edible succulent that’s grown as a crop in some areas. However, because it produces abundant seeds, this species has the tendency to behave like weeds. If left in the garden without control, they can take over your whole area and replace the crops that you originally intended to grow. 

Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

Although lambsquarters are also edible when young, they could be a source of huge trouble when they grow mature. This species can also behave like weeds as they are fast-growing in the summer season. Its seeds can even remain dormant and viable for a very long time. 

Pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)

Pigweed is a difficult weed to manage as it competes with broadleaf crops. It grows as a shrub and can easily outgrow your soybean or cotton. They also have a taproot so they’re quite tough once set in the garden. It’s also an annual species so expect them to arrive during spring or summer. 

Chickweed (Stellaria sp. & Cerastium spp.)

Allow chickweed to take residence and it’ll take you about 8 years to eradicate them. Hence, you shouldn’t allow this species to flourish in your garden. They particularly love moist and well-watered areas. And the worst thing is that they house pests and other disease-causing organisms like plant viruses.

It’s a winter annual weed so they appear during the winter season and it’s best to pull them out while they’re still young and small. 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Yes, we know the dandelion has attractive yellow flowers. And they’re a good addition if you want to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. However, they can be very invasive. They can overtake any growing ornamentals in your beloved garden.

So, unless you’re committed to controlling its growth, we recommend not to plant dandelions in your area. 

Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Shepherd’s purse loves to inhibit agricultural lands so you’ll most likely see them growing along with your vegetable crops, orchards, nurseries, and vineyards. It has the appearance of a flat basal rosette which resembles that of brassica species. It’s also a winter annual that quickly grows and dies. 

Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)

Creeping charlie is a vining weed that has a creeping growth habit. This species is also difficult to control. Once it grows, it can easily invade your garden and other nearby places. It can spread itself in three ways: seeds, rhizomes, and stems. And it thrives well in moist and shady locations. Plus, it’s a perennial species so it won’t go away year by year.

Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens)

Another tough perennial weed species that has flat, hairy leaves are the quackgrass. Because it has rhizomes, it can easily form a mat spreading over the ground. They’re also fast-growing so make sure to pull them out at the onset of their growth. If left without intervention, they can grow from 12 to 40 inches high. 

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canada thistle is another creeping perennial weed species. Like the creeping charlie, it’s also persistent and can cause huge trouble in agricultural lands. It typically grows in pasture lands causing a reduction in the grazing areas. They can grow up to 2 to 4 feet tall and will easily outgrow broadleaf crops like legumes. 

Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Bindweed is another invasive and persistent species of weed. They have an extensive root system that their growth can even displace the root system of your plants. Not only that but their roots can even go as deep as 14 feet!

You can see why it’s hated by most gardeners. 

Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.)

Considered one of the most problematic weeds in agricultural lands, nutsedge is also a perennial species that resembles the appearance of grasses. Because of that, they’re also called nutgrass. 

There are two species of nutsedge: the yellow nutsedge and the purple nutsedge. Between these two, the purple nutsedge can be very vigorous. 

Buckhorn Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

The thing about buckhorn plantain is that it serves as a host for the rosy apple aphid. When it grows near apples, it can reduce the yield of the trees in the orchard. It forms a basal rosette of narrow, parallel-veined leaves. As this weed is low-growing and grows from a long taproot, it can be difficult to control. 

Ways to Control Weeds

Although it’s quite difficult to completely eradicate the weeds, there are certain ways to manage them and at least minimize their negative impact on your plants or crops. 

There’s no single way to combat weeds. Most of the time, it will require combinations of two or more methods be it preventive, cultural, mechanical, biological, or chemical. Let’s discuss this one by one. 

Prevention

This method is the most important as it entails activities that would prevent the establishment of weeds in any area. It’s always better to be mindful not to allow weeds to grow and take residence in your garden as it will save you lots of work in the future. 

Always use certified weed-free seed. You can guarantee that these seeds in the packet are not contaminated with any seeds of weeds. Transport only the weed-free hay. And make sure to use cleaned tools when gardening. 

Cultural

Cultural methods such as crop rotation, maintaining good fertility, planting of persistent forage grasses, and prevention or overgrazing can help prevent the establishment of weeds in your area. 

Such practices applied in the field not only help in weed management but also in pest and disease prevention.

Mechanical or Physical

In a mechanical method, you can do tilling and mowing using the farm equipment to control the growth of weeds. With the use of these tools, you can uproot and bury the young weeds growing in your garden preventing them from outgrowing your crops. 

Biological

This method makes use of biological agents to naturally control the growth and spread of weeds. An example would be sheep that can control tansy ragwort or leafy spurge. Natural enemies such as insects, mites, and pathogens can also be introduced to reduce the density of the weed in your garden.

Chemical

Lastly, we have chemical control wherein we use herbicides to kill the weeds and prevent their germination and growth. This is typically used if we want immediate results and there are abundant weeds present. Some examples are 2,4-DB; EPTC; bromoxynil; and paraquat. 

However, we suggest that you take caution in using chemicals as this can also harm the beneficial organisms around.

Final Thoughts

Combating weeds can be difficult, especially if you are new to gardening. They can get quite competitive and create major obstructions in your garden. There are numerous species of weeds out there targeting different crops each year. You can control them using various biological and chemical treatments. 

Weed prevention and treatment are possible if you know about the weed type and its treatment. Do not worry, if you are unaware of these nitty-gritties. Taim.io comes to the rescue here and helps you with all your gardening-related problems. It is a one-stop solution for all gardeners. 

It is practically difficult and cumbersome to look up on the internet each weed type and its treatment. There are way too many solutions available online and it is difficult to just stick to one and you never know which one to trust. This is where Taim.io can help you in the most accurate way possible.