Weed Management

If not managed properly, your property could be a source of weeds causing problems for you and your neighbors!

What is a Weed?

A weed is defined as a plant growing in a place in which it is not wanted. Almost any plant could be classified as a weed if found growing in an unwanted place. However, most plants classified as weeds are called that because they are persistent and hard to keep out of a garden, lawn, or field. Some plants are poisonous to animals and humans and are undesirable because of their toxicity.

Prevention

Prevention is the most effective and least costly form of weed control. Land management will maintain desirable vegetation by avoiding over grazing. Other sound practices include purchasing weed-free hay, planting certified grass and legume seed and washing your vehicle after being in a weed-infested area. Respond quickly to weed infestations. Finally, work with your neighbors to keep the soil covered with desirable, productive plants.

Weed Control

The best way to combat weeds is to provide strong competition from desirable plants. Having healthy, vigorous perennial plants that provide competition for the space, moisture and nutrients is the best way to keep weeds away.

Annually cropped fields and gardens are difficult to manage because they do not maintain a stable population of plants to compete with weeds. Weeds can be controlled by either mowing or grazing them before they go to seed.

The use of herbicides to control weeds should be the last resort. This is only a short term solution before the development of a longer term means of management.

Mulches, cultivation and other cultural methods of management are usually lower cost and often more effective than the use of chemicals. Whenever you have a disturbed site, seed desirable plants before weeds take over. Never leave bare soil.

Landowners are encouraged to learn to identify plants common to the area. Information on weeds and plant identification is available from Jackson County/OSU Cooperative Extension Office, Bureau of Land Management Office, U.S. Forest Service office, and the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Yellow Starthistle, an annual, is probably the most common, easily recognized noxious weed in Jackson County. It is also one of the easiest to control with a variety of methods. Managing Yellow Starthistle in Southwestern Oregon is available at the OSU Extension Office.