What is a weed?

 

There are as many answers to this simple question as there are types or varieties of weeds. Simply, a weed is a plant growing in a place it is not wanted- usually in competition with cultivated plants. The more difficult a plant is to remove from a site, the more likely it is to be considered a weed. If it threatens local agriculture or a native ecosystem, then it is considered a noxious or invasive species. 

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How do weeds Grow?

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Weeds live underground and that is where they keep root. Weeds will branch these long veins in the ground and take root based on their seasons. Many common ones such as medusaheads and cheat grass are designed to stay hidden and dormant during the winter in order to survive.

 

The idea is that each weed in its part will always be trying to grow. So if you cut a weed in half and leave it in the ground, it will grow. If you cut of both ends of it and leave a stalk there, it will grow into a new fuller weed.

 

Weeds grow and eat purely based on the soil and the sun, unfortunately, they don't need both, they only need one. While they will always grow towards the sun, they don't require it to survive, which is why we are able to see them in the first place.

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Should I let some good weeds grow?

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It’s a familiar story; we spend months fighting weeds in our lawns and gardens, only to lose the battle when the plants return year after year. MAYBE IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER LETTING SOME WEEDS GROW, as some offer numerous benefits in the garden, and the kitchen, too. Many weeds may offer medicinal benefits, but always check with medicinal herbalist or physician first. Never eat weeds that have treated with herbicides, pesticides, or other toxic chemicals. Here are five beneficial weeds to grow in your garden:

 

Top 5 Beneficial Weeds To Grow In Your Garden:

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• Dandelions – These are good weeds for gardens. Dandelions have sturdy roots that loosen hard, compacted soil. The nectar-rich flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects. The entire plant is edible. The nutrient-rich leaves are sautéed, or added to soups and stews. The flowers can be battered and fried or fermented for dandelion wine.

 

• Clover – A familiar plant with trifoliate leaves and cheery little blooms, clover draws bees and other beneficial insects to the garden. Clover is a legume, and like other legumes, it pulls nitrogen from the air and fixes it in the soil, making it available for neighboring plants.

 

• Lambsquarter – When letting weeds grow, don’t forget to include this plant. Young, tender leaves can be cooked like spinach. Keep in mind, however, that although lambsquarter is a nutritional powerhouse, the uncooked leaves contain oxalic acid, which have been associated with kidney stones and other health problems. In the garden, lambsquarter is a useful companion that gets along well with a variety of plants, including cantaloupe, pumpkins, zinnias, peonies, and marigolds.

 

• Purslane – Succulent purslane leaves are rich in nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, and are very beneficial weeds to grow. Purslane is delicious steamed and served with butter, added to omelets, or tossed into soups or salads. Herbalists claim that purslane can help with insomnia, stomach aches, and minor skin disorders, and that it may strengthen bones, and improve circulation. Keep in mind that purslane contains oxalic acids, which have been linked to kidney stones; however, boiling removes much of the compound. 

 

• Plantain – Young, tender plantain shoots are often sautéed in olive oil, which enhances the slightly nutty, asparagus-like flavor. Native Americans brewed strong plantain tea to treat skin irritations such as insect bites, sunburns, and minor cuts. Herbalists claim the plant may help with diabetes, indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea.

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What is meant by "native plant"?

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A plant that is a part of the balance of nature that has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem. Note: The word native should always be used with a geographic qualifier. Only plants found in this country before European settlement are considered to be native to the United States.

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What is the difference between a noxious, pervasive, or invasive weed?

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• A noxious weed is any plant designated by federal, state or local government officials as injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife or property. Once a weed is classified as noxious, authorities can implement quarantines and take other actions to contain or destroy the weed and limit its spread.

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• Invasive weeds are weeds that establish, persist and spread widely in natural ecosystems outside the plant’s native range. When in a foreign locale, these invaders often lack natural enemies to curtail their growth – enabling them to overrun native plants and ecosystems. It should be no surprise that many invasive weeds are also classified as noxious weeds by government authorities.

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• “Superweed” In addition to the science-based definitions above, many people use the slang term “superweed” to describe weeds that have evolved characteristics that make them more difficult to manage as a result of repeated use of the same weed management tactic. The most common use of the slang refers to a weed that has become resistant to one or more herbicide mechanisms of action after their repeated use in the absence of more diverse weed control measures. 

 

What is meant by good gardening ethics and proper land use? 

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• Ethical gardening is type of gardening, where only sustainable and environmentally friendly maintenance, planting and harvesting methods are being used. That can be achieved by minimizing our intervention in the natural process of plant growing.

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• Proper land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural habitats such as arable fields, pastures, and managed woods. 

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What is the difference between conservation, preservation, and restoration of land?

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• Conservation is generally associated with the protection of natural resources. Conservation seeks the proper use of nature. 

 

• Preservation seeks protection of nature from use. 

 

• Restoration is the act of returning the deteriorated natural resource to its original or near original condition.

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