Why is a plant categorized as a weed

Below are some characteristics of weeds:. Weeds are plants first before they are determined to be weeds. As plants, they do have attributes that can be considered beneficial to the environment. They can help keep soil in place, provide a place for wildlife to live and to feed, and can be aesthetically pleasing. As they die, they can turn into beneficial organic matter. In some cases, they can also have nutritional benefits.

In the case of companies like Spring-Green, weeds can provide business and employment opportunities. As it is written, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Not all plants are weeds, but all weeds can have negative impacts on ways that food is produced for humans and livestock, to human health and to the overall environment.

Cream Scabious, or Cream Pincusion, Scabiosa ochroleuca is a biennial plant that can catch you by surprise a few years after being planted in the garden Figure 6. It spends its first year as a small, unassuming clump of somewhat fuzzy leaves growing close to the ground. By mid-summer of the next year, the plant has grown up to three feet in height and may reach three feet in width by the end of the summer.

It produces dozens of one-inch-wide creamy yellow flowers that are produced on fine, wiry stems. The anthers stick up on tiny, little pin-like stalks, giving the plant its common name.

All of those cute little flowers produce lots of seeds, which, when ripe, also look like more pins stuck in a pin cushion. The first-year plants are easy to pull out, but are often missed, because they are not that showy in the garden.

Snow-on-the-mountain Aegopodium podograria is a favorite plant of both authors, but only for the right kind of locations where the plant can spread without creating headaches for all involved.

This plant spreads mostly by underground stems called rhizomes, soon making a dense groundcover that outcompetes weeds as well as other garden plants Figure 7. It grows well in shade; although, when grown in full shade, it may not flower. Snow-on-the-mountain may get scorched leaves during the heat of the summer or when grown in full-sun conditions. The variegated form is the one that is most-often planted.

It has a three-part dissected leaf with white margins along the edges. In early summer, it produces a white umbel flower, like that of dill, but smaller. The plant only grows about eight to 10 inches-tall, except when it is blooming. This is a great plant to use under shade trees, where it can just grow as far as it wants. If you want to keep this plant in check, you may need to use landscape edging, pavers and occasional hand removal of plants that step out of line.

The storage life of various types of vegetables can be extended by several days or even months by keeping them at recommended temperature and humidity levels.

Fall is the perfect time to plant hardy, spring-flowering bulbs. Garlic is planted late in the fall, before the soil freezes. It is easy to grow, takes very little space and is a true treat. Grow some yourself this fall to enjoy next year! Figure 1. Shasta daisies are nice garden plant that may outcompete other garden neighbors. Courtesy: David Graper. Figure 2. Yellow archangel is a very-aggressive spreader, even in heavy shade.

Prepared by Dwight D. Certain characteristics are associated with and allow the survival of weeds. Weeds posses one or more of the following:. Weeds are troublesome in many ways. Primarily, they reduce crop yield by competing for water, light, soil nutrients, and space. Other problems associated with weeds in agriculture include:. Weeds are common on all million acres of U.

Since weeds are so common, people generally do not understand their economic impact on crop losses and control costs. Another source estimates that U. Also, weed control and other input costs e. Several factors help determine the relative costs of herbicides from one crop to another and include the competitive ability of the crop, the weeds present, the contribution of non-chemical control practices, the tillage method, management decisions, and the value of the crop.

Ross and Lembi, Despite the negative impacts of weeds, some plants usually thought of as weeds may actually provide some benefits. Some attributes include:. Let's Stay Connected.