Weather might not be cooperating, but weeds grow strong

While the weather might not be cooperating for those who want to get their tomatoes, melons and warm-season flowers growing well, there is one group of plants that has not been slowed down at all.

Weeds are like an avalanche covering the garden. The winter annuals that started growing last fall love the cool moist weather and are growing unabated. Many, such as the mustards, the downy brome and the cereal rye, are reaching maturity and shedding their pollen.

This is contributing to what might be a record year for pollen. That is not good news for allergy sufferers. To make matters worse, the summer annuals are already growing well and will further aggravate the problem.

For gardeners, the problem takes on a different dimension. Weeds are often referred to as the silent pests. While insects usually affect a specific kind of plant and diseases are even more specific, weeds are no respecter of any plants and interfere equally with all their growth.

To wage a successful war, you must know the enemy. You have to know what plant you are dealing with in order to control it. Is it a monocot (grass) or a dicot (broadleaf plant)? Is it an annual, biennial or perennial plant? Does it grow during the winter, or does it require summer heat to grow well?

Dr. Ralph Whiteside, Extension Weed Specialist for Utah State University has made that job a little easier. He has co-authored a new publication titled Common Weeds of the Yard and Garden.

He explains, "The state of Utah has listed 27 plants on their noxious weed list. An extension publication titled "Noxious Weed Field Guide for Utah" has been used extensively to teach the public about the identification and biology of the legally listed noxious weeds."

Over several years, he spent time assessing what was needed to help those in the business of weed control do a better job.

He explains, "Many horticulturists said that they had problems with commonly occurring weeds that are not on the noxious weed list and thus would like a weed identification guide that included noxious weeds but focused on weeds more commonly encountered in the yard and garden."

The book will help you because it provides information about the weeds that are most likely to occur in your garden and landscape. It lists control tactics but not control products. These include preventative, cultural or mechanical methods. These are the preferred control methods, as opposed to chemical controls, if possible.