skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Where do weeds come from?

13 years ago

I'm sure different areas have different weeds, but where do all the annual weeds come from? I know that this is a very broad question.

Every year when it gets hot I get hundreds of blue-green crabgrass like grass growing everywhere in the garden, and every where that the soil has been disturbed. And between bricks. How does all this weed grass get distributed? And that weed which is suppossed to be edible and pigs like, it gets started in the garden when it gets hot every year. Where do the seeds come from? Assuming that weeds were pulled before they stared seeds? Birds? Wind? Little pieces of roots that are dormant until it is hot?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

taz6122
13 years ago
You answered your own question. All of the above plus runners that grow under the surface.
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
13 years ago
Crabgrass and pigweed are both annuals that come from seed. They produce thousands of seed from one plant. And the seeds survive many years in the soil. If you are able to keep an area from producing any weed seeds for 2-3 years, the weed problem will gradually improve. But one year of seed production and all your effort is lost.

Herbicides or a thick mulch are the best answers to weed problems. I get by with occasional Roundup, hoeing, and mulch.
Related Discussions
Where do the leeches come from???
Q
Comments (22)
lmao..I was surprised to see this come back up! Pikecoe, I am really lmao @ your experiment and the leech jerky!! Salt does def kill them, I have used it on them b4. If I flipped a rock and saw one I'd remove it, throw it on the ground and salt it..better than salting a slug! Of course my kids thought I was totally evil for doing it, but hey! let them get their legs sucked on and see if they dont salt the lil SOB's. I havent seen any this year so far. Mike, we have leeches all over here in NJ..they arent a foreign thing. I also learned that leeches can live out of the water, as well as in. Interesting creatures. Calamity, I wouldnt chuck the plants. I would keep rinsing them off and putting them in new water, till all signs of leeches are gone. As long as they are in totes and there are no fish to worry about, I say use the bleach!! Pikecoe..I HAVE to ask...what do you mean..'PP'??
...See More
Where do AHRI Directory Operating Cost Estimates Come From?
Q
Comments (9)
This really boils down to a choice between a Trane XL16i and a Rheem RP17 heat pump system. The Trane is 17 SEER and 9.5 HSPF (AHRI #7563855.) The Rheem is 18.5 SEER and 9.5 HSPF (AHRI #8953019.) Based upon those numbers you would think that the Rheem would have the lower estimated operating costs. The reported numbers show a small advantage ($4/yr) on cooling but a large disadvantage ($76/yr) on heating. This makes no sense at all given the identical HSPF numbers, not to mention that the Rheem has a 10,000 BTU/Hr advantage in heating performance at 17 degrees F.
...See More
fugnus gnats: where do they come from
Q
Comments (2)
I have no clue where they come from, but they are annoying. Thankfully, they don't seem to cause issues (but I'm not sure if they do, as I clear 'em out as soon as I see 'em). A good dousing of systemic pesticides (imidacloprid) or spraying all plants/plant parts down with a mix of 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol and a squirt of baby shampoo or dish soap (not detergent) to 25 oz. water works. You will have to reapply the alcohol spray, as needed, until the gnats disappear. Be sure to leave any plants treated with sprays/chemicals in a low lit area, until everything is completely dry.
...See More
What brand of tuna do you buy? Where does it come from?
Q
Comments (19)
I buy skip jack at trader joe's: Between fear of consuming too much mercury and sustainability concerns, shopping for canned tuna has become a health minefield. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s makes it simple with their pole-caught skipjack tuna. This type of tuna, which was rated a "Best Choice" by Seafood Watch, checks both boxes. The term "pole-caught" means that it was caught by hook and line—meaning other fish weren't accidentally caught (and wasted) in a fishing net. And according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the skipjack variety contains moderate levels of mercury, far less than canned albacore (solid white), ahi, or bigeye. Plus, it's a great deal at just $1.49 per can. Make a satisfying, balanced salad by tossing it with veggies and a light dressing.
...See More
jimster
13 years ago
fruitnut is exactly right. Most common garden weeds, such as pig weed, purslane and lamb's quarters, produce many thousands of tiny seeds. Persistent and thorough weed control over an extended period of time is the answer. Don't allow one weed to produce seed in your garden.

Jim
lantanascape
13 years ago
If you have irrigation water instead of municipal water, weed seeds may also be introduced that way, though having a filter on your system will help.

Related Stories

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: From Overgrown Weeds to Picturesque Farmhouse Expanse

By Mitchell Parker

This once-neglected 100-acre South Carolina site now features a lake, a wood-filled farmhouse and a far-reaching view

FLOWERS Great Design Plant: Joe Pye Weed

By Becky Harris

This unsung beauty tolerates wet soil, provides beautiful late summer blooms and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS Studio Tour: A Sunny Space Where Ceramic Creations Come to Life

By Tamara Armstrong

Tour a dynamic and organized Brisbane, Australia, home studio

GARDENING GUIDES What’s in a Name? See 6 Wildflowers That Aren’t ‘Weeds’ at All

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Dispel the stereotypes of weeds and try these wildlife-supporting native wildflowers in your garden

GARDENING GUIDES Let's Weed Out 4 Native Plant Myths

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Plant wisely for a garden that supports pollinators and requires less work

EDIBLE GARDENS Natural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden

By Abundant City

Use these techniques to help prevent the spread of weeds and to learn about your soil

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Bugle Weed, a Quick Ground Cover

It’s highly adaptable, suppresses weeds, reduces erosion and provide weeks of bright flowers. Just watch for invasiveness

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Ways to Naturally Win the Weed War

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Show irksome weeds no mercy with these tricks for combating them sans chemicals

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Weed-Smothering Ground Covers

Let these landscape plants do the dirty work of choking out weeds while you sit back and enjoy the view

GARDENING GUIDES Weed War: When and How to Use Chemical Herbicides

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Before you spray, arm yourself with knowledge about which weed killers — natural or synthetic — are right for your yard

Sponsored

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

233 Reviews

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

More Discussions

What to plant on the north side of tomato plants?

15

Best Way to Enclose Existing Raised Beds?

11

What will leftover leeks from last year do?

3

Do carpenter bee traps work?

7

How often to add soil sulfur?

5