Common garden weeds, life cycle?
Question:Is there a peak time for common garden weeds? I know they're around all year but when will the seedlings stop springing up everywhere?
Answers:
There are cycles of weeds. Many have a different times for propagation as they fill different niches. Most common weeds are annuals or biannuals but many will take any opportunity to germinate if the conditions are favorable others, like bitter cress are spring only.
Many weeds indicate for soil deficiencies. Correct the problem and those weeds will not grow so well.
http://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/articles/weed...
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/...
To research specific weeds try these sites
Weed web sites
http://garden.org/weedlibrary/
http://www.whitman.wsu.edu/weeds/index.h...
http://weedid.aces.uiuc.edu/
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/pmg/weeds_com...
http://weeds.ippc.orst.edu/pnw/weeds...
http://www.xidservices.com/cgi-bin/user.
http://gardening.wsu.edu/
http://www.whitneyfarms.com/drdirt/...
There are methods for controling weeds that are post emergant:1- 20% vinegar, 2-6% vinegar (acetic acid)/clove oil combination, and 3- fatty acid.
1-For spot treatment or for small areas of pure weeds, try David Hall’s method of "vinegar sprayed as a foliar spray, not a soil drench. To a gallon of vinegar, mix a tablespoon of liquid dish soap and two tablespoons of molasses as wetting agents. Apply full strength from a hand sprayer. Be careful not to get any spray on you or in your eyes or inhale it.”
20% vinegar is available at some Nurseries, Lowes, and Home Depot garden centers. (20 % costs over $10/gal but less than Scott’s Weed B Gon at $15/gal. Only the hardiest weeds need 20%, 10% does for most weeds.
2-Xpress, Matran or Alldown, but these are to be used on weeds less than 5 inches tall.
3- Pelargonic acid, found in many plants, is currently available in a commercial herbicide, Scythe, but is not yet approved as an organic herbicide.
the weed seeds will quit sprouting when they have all sprouted. There are a few things you can do to help them not germanate so fast. 1) Mulch the beds at least 3 in. deep (this cuts down on the sunlight some weeds need to germinate) any that do will be fairly spindly and can easily be pulled. Don't till so much. Every time you till you stir up the "weed bank" and bring more seeds to the surface. There are products you can put out called pre-emergence that make it so the seeds do not sprout. These products can be used 3 weeks after you have set out plants. Note I said plants not seeds. But of course always read the labels and follow the directions of and product you use. good luck
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