WEEDS are the bane of all gardeners, but what exactly is a weed?
A weed is any plant that colonises in an ecosystem in which it previously did not exist.
They are excellent survivors, as we all know, love dry times and excel in the wet.
They love disturbed environments and often produce large numbers of seeds which continually multiply if they’re not kept in check.
Weeds often grow quickly and shade smaller plants, eliminating the light which would allow other plants to grow.
Councils often have a tough job eliminating exotic species, or for that matter native species that invade waterholes and creek beds.
It’s said that in Australia, weeds are spreading faster than they can be controlled due to our vast distances and difficult terrain.
Even Australian native plants can become weeds when a species moves into a new area.
This column has touched on this before, but several plants available at some nurseries are listed with councils as plants of particular concern to the area.
Worldwide, weeds cause more yield loss and add more to farmers’ production costs than insects and other pests.
Many organic farmers consider weeds as the most serious barrier to a successful organic crop; by not using herbicides they must be continually weeding to ensure a healthy crop.
Many crops today are grown in sheltered areas where all these weeds, pests etc can be controlled effectively.
In the past, tomatoes were grown in what were called “glasshouses”, where sunlight was diffused and watering carried out on a systematic basis.
Today, huge sheds contain these plants, sheds that contain modern day equipment, and computers to constantly monitor the health of the plants.
But not only tomatoes – many other varieties, including many flowers, are grown in a sealed environment these days.
But how do we control weeds in our home garden?
Well for one, cover all your garden with mulch, about 5cm thick. Thicker than that will find the rain not getting through to the roots, thinner and the weeds will grow through.
Sugar cane is my favourite, although there are others just as good. Experiment to find out which best suits your garden.
In days gone by, different grades of pine mulch were used and it is still available, however the large pieces can house cockroaches and other pests, while the “fine” variety doesn’t allow the water to get through to the roots.
For home gardeners, it’s best to check your garden and pull out any weeds daily, just a few minutes every day is all that’s required. It’s easy!
Till next time.
