Chances are at some point or another you’ve dealt with weeds. I remember many a chore taking out the old weedwhacker and getting rid of these annoying things. But what are these? Weeds are invasive plants. They are usually not appealing to the eyes. Plus they hinder the growth of more desireable plants by taking up space, using up fertilizer, or blocking sunlight. They also carry pathogens that can infect regular plants or crops. So needless to say, weeds are not a good thing to have around. Here are some common weeds you may see in the Northeastern United States, listed in alphabetical order.
Crabgrass
Crabgrass makes its appearances in the summer, and you’ll commonly find it in your gardens as well as your lawn. They thrive in underfertilzed or lightly watered yards, and grow rapidly in sunlight. You won’t find much crabgrass in winter months. Crabgrass also generates a lot of seeds. If you leave it untreated, it will die off in winter and leave a big gap in your yard. This is a good area for the seeds to grow and get ready for next year. They are chemicals that combat crabgrass, but keeping your yard in good shape is your first move. Fertilize it in spring and you should have a healthy yard of grass, which will help prevent crabgrass. Picking by hand will work for the crabgrass you already have.
Dandelions
Dandelions were prevalent all over my yard growing up, and all around. At growth many mistake them for flowers, with yellow petals in a circular shape. They grow and spread very fast. They also don’t need much water to thrive. These are very invasive ‘flowers’ that as mentioned in the introduction will hinder the growth of your regular plants. On top of that, dandelions attract bees due to their vast spread and pollen. Adding more difficulty as the allergins they omit. As someone with bad seasonal allergies, I’m not looking for any more cause to sneeze. Oddly they have some benefits and are fairly nutritious, but you still don’t want them in your yard. Chemicals are always an option to remove them, but removing them by hand is more effective and safer. Mowing your lawn regularly will also help.
Millkweed
While vital for bees and butterflies, milkweed can be an eyesore for your lawn. Like many weeds, its most common in the summertime. It can steal valuable light from your grass and plants, thus hurting their growth and development. If left alone milkweed can grow fairly large, upwards of 2 meters. So you don’t want to leave it alone. A weedwhacker will do the trick in eliminating milkweed, but only removing by hand will get the root out of there and stop the chance for regrowing. Proper fertlizing will really help in preventing milkweed.
Poison Ivy
Bad memories of that pink calamine lotion should help remind you that you don’t want poison ivy anywhere near you. Contact with skin causes a big time irritation. You’ll be scratching and scratching, which could lead to infections. So aside from hindering your other plants, it could also hinder you’re well being. Poison ivy can grow anywhere, but is most common in wooded areas. It can be in sunny areas or shaded areas too, and chances are if you’re in an area with a lot of green around that’s not grass, you could be encountering poison ivy. Poison ivy is a bunch of 3 pointy green leaves on vines. Herbicides, such as Roundup, one of the most popular types, are a good bet to get rid of poison ivy. Make sure you follow the instructions on the package.
SOURCES
http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=42
http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-weeds-pests/how-do-i-get-rid-of-weeds.php
