The first people to learn how to plant seeds in the ground was a long time ago. This allowed them to produce food, beauty, and fiber. The science behind how and what plants we can grow has advanced a lot. Weeds have been with us all along the way.
What is a weed, you ask? A weed is simply a plant that has grown in an undesirable place. Many tomato seeds survive the harsh conditions of a compost pile and then germinate in large numbers wherever the compost has been spread. If you don’t want them to grow where they are chosen, they will be considered «weeds».
Weeds are robbers. They can rob plants nearby of nutrients and water. They can shade plants and block sunlight if they are large enough.
Some weeds release chemicals into the soil that can inhibit the growth of neighboring plants. Lambsquarter is just one example of a weed that has been shown to slow down the growth of nearby vegetables like tomato and corn.
One problem with weeds can be that they can harbour pests that spread to your garden plants. Horse nettle is a relative to potato and gives potato beetles an early start before they get onto potatoes. Verticillium wilt can also be transmitted to lambsquarters, which can also affect tomatoes.
They’re not all bad
Let’s not rush out to grab every weed. Instead, let us take a deep breath and consider the benefits. — of weeds. Take a look at the bare ground. It is more likely to be washed away by the wind or washed away from water. The ground is usually covered by lambsquarters and smartweed.
Weeds not only protect the soil, but they also improve it over time. Their roots help improve soil aeration and provide nutrients by breaking down the soil. The roots of weeds die and, together with the dead leaves and stems, are decomposed to enrich the soil with humus.
The soil’s mineral imbalances are corrected by weeds. Compare the variety of plants found in uncultivated fields with the uniformity in a weed-free field. Uncultivated fields have a variety of plants that draw different amounts of nutrients from the soil. In a cultivated cornfield, the corn plants only take up what they need. There might be a few weeds that can take up some of the nutrients and balance any excesses in the soil after corn.
WEED CONTROL OPTIONS
Weeds are not to be allowed free reign in the garden due to their dark side. There are many ways to keep them under control. They should not be used as a last resort. They can cause damage to plants and other areas of the environment if used too often. You can also encourage the growth of resistant weeds by continuing to use the herbicide.
