Of the weeds It is always spoken in a derogatory tone. It is used to compare someone who has a malicious attitude or who ruins everything he does with his bad intentions. It is said that we must uproot them so that they do not spoil the plantations in which they grow, because they can end up causing the death of a beautiful plant. But, what are weeds exactly? What is true in everything that is said about them? Is there any benefit from growing weeds or are they definitely as harmful as people say about them?
We are going to see everything about these weeds point by point, so that it is clear to you what they are, what are weeds like so that you can recognize them and act accordingly with them, as well as what influence it has on a plant, its benefits, which we already told you that it does have, and its disadvantages, which there are also.
If you like the world of gardening, you have to read this post, because weeds are a topic that you must master well to take care of your plants and have them in the best conditions.
What are weeds
We call “weeds” usually to the weeds. For those plants that appear spontaneously, no one knows how and that begin to reproduce at high speed, invading space and depleting the resources for life that the invaded plant has. In fact, what is most threatening in the case of weeds is that they have a very rapid dispersion capacity, which makes their growth and expansion uncontrollable if they are not eliminated in time.
Put yourself in the situation: you find an intruder in your pots, you don't know where it came from, what it is, or how it got there, but it begins to dominate the land more and more, leaving no space for your own plants, the ones you are caring for. with so much care. Wouldn't it be true that this situation would be terribly bad for you? Hence the name weeds and the disastrous reputation that these herbs earn.
La bad weed It is not a single species, but any wild plant that appears where no one has invited it and stays to live in your pot. Or she intends to. They can grow in your pots but also in gardens, orchards and, in general, anywhere where there are plants that humans try to care for and control.
Now, the question you may be asking yourself is, how on earth do those plants get to your pot, your garden or your crops? Very simple: its seeds arrive carried by the wind, by birds on their legs and in their beaks or wings, or through other animals that pass by. Even through organic waste such as, for example, the planting itself, fertilizer, etc. Let us remember that their greatest sin and their main characteristic problem is that they have a high capacity to reproduce and spread everywhere.
What are weeds like?
Know what are weeds like It is essential so that you can eliminate them and not confuse them with other species or with parts of your same plant. To recognize them you have to know some notions about gardening:
- Weeds have only one cotyledon.
- They have taproots.
- The pods are usually long.
- They have a parallel nerve.
- They grow close to the ground and horizontally.
There is even apps to identify weeds.
What weeds do to plants
Lo What weeds do to plants is that they take away water and sustenance. In addition, in some cases, they also expose pests and diseases to appear. For these reasons, weeds are a disadvantage for a plantation, however, there are also some benefits that are fair to take into account.
Benefits of weeds
Nature is wise and it is not possible to think about the existence of a living being that does not provide a single benefit with its very existence, because it simply would not exist. We may like it more or less, but weeds have their good things. To establish a fair balance between good and bad, here is a list of the benefits that weeds bring to a plant, garden or orchard:
- Weeds provide organic matter, so one benefit of weeds is the compost that can be made.
- These weeds prevent the soil from eroding and provide it with a solid and stable structure.
- The existence of weeds favors the formation of a microclimate.
- Where there are weeds, there are usually pollinators too.
Maybe in a pot, in your garden or in your orchard you will not be the least bit happy to find yourself weeds and it's normal. But in other places, such as parks and urban environments, its rapid expansion and growth contributes to vegetation and increases the density of green spaces that are so necessary and currently scarce. Where other plants fail to survive, they do and help reduce pollution.
Given this, perhaps the weeds are not so bad and let's start valuing them more from now on.
Disadvantages of weeds
The disadvantages are better known, but here they are listed:
- It makes the work of risk and care of the desired plants difficult.
- Promotes the appearance of pests and diseases.
- The microclimate they build favors the appearance of fungi.
- In some cases, weeds are toxic and prevent the survival of the plants they have invaded and there are even species that are poisonous to humans and animals.
After seeing all this, you decide whether to end the weeds or you let them run their course. The use of herbicides helps you avoid and eliminate them. If you opt for natural herbicides, even better, because it will be less risky for animals that eat those herbs, such as dogs and other animals. In addition, we must always think about the environment and look for methods to take care of our garden or orchard that are not harmful.