Weeds
Introduction:
Any plant that is growing where it’s not wanted can be considered a weed, but some species are “weedier” than others because they have characteristics that help them grow quickly, out-compete other plants for water and nutrients, and spread easily. This module will help you understand the important concepts about weeds, the types of weeds and the options for weed management. Some of you may be trying to manage specific weeds in areas that you live or visit. There are additional resources in the Supplemental Materials that can help with identification and treatment options for weed species.
Objectives:
After completing the reading in the manual, online module, and class activities, you will:
- Identify characteristics of weeds;
- Define invasive plants;
- Identify cultural and mechanical methods of weed management;
- Differentiate between selective and nonselective herbicides;
- Differentiate between pre emergent and post emergent herbicides;
- Recognize that correct identification of a weed determines the management and control options available.
Read:
Watch:
- Presenter: Mike Maddox, Outreach Program Manager for the Master Gardener Program.
- FYI: These videos were created for Master Gardener Volunteer Training and are used with permission for Foundations in Horticulture.
- There are six required videos for Weeds, for a total view time of approximately 24 minutes.
Practice:
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Supplemental Materials:
- Common problem weeds in Wisconsin – Chapter 7, Pages 122-128
- UW-Madison Renz Weed Science website with videos and factsheets about weed species and resources for Wisconsin invasive plant identification.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Invasive Species – including information on identification and management of invasive species. Check this site for the Invasive Species Rule (NR-40) which makes it illegal to possess, transport, transfer or introduce certain invasive species in Wisconsin without a permit.
- Wisconsin First Detector Network (WIFDN) is a citizen science network that empowers people to take action against invasive species through invasive species monitoring, management, and outreach. WIFDN provides training and resources through a combination of webinars, instructional videos, and hands-on workshops, in addition to providing volunteer opportunities to citizen scientists.
- UW-Madison Online Weed Identification Tool