How Weeds Can Harm the Plants in Your Garden
Gardening is a rewarding experience when things go well. But one of a gardener's worst enemies is weeds. These unwanted pest plants grow and spread faster than other more beneficial and attractive plants do. And if you don't get weeds under control, all your garden efforts can be for naught.
If weeds are spreading throughout your garden, over time, they will harm your plants and take over the entire space.
Weeds take up valuable nutrients
Plants need to take in many nutrients from the soil to remain healthy, especially essential nutrients like hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and nitrogen. A lack of these important nutrients will lead to sickly plants with stunted growth. Weeds deprive plants of these vital nutrients as they hungrily and quickly drain them from the soil.
Weeds steal valuable space
Weeds aren't as picky as most other plants are. They can grow almost anywhere, including gutters, between concrete pavers and in abandoned furniture. Because they grow much more quickly than other plants, weeds can quickly take over a garden, leaving seeds behind as they go. This leaves little space for your plants and vegetables to grow.
If you notice weeds sprouting in your young garden, pull them out immediately before they can spread and leave more seeds that will sprout yet more weeds.
Weeds block sunlight
Many weeds grow very quickly, and they often grow much taller than other plants do. This will be bad for your own plants, which won't get the sunlight that they need to grow into healthy and mature plants because they are overshadowed by surrounding weeds.
Weeds can become parasites
Some weeds, such as the witchweed, which grows in Africa and Australia, are parasitic in nature. This means that they attach themselves to the roots or stems of surrounding plants and steal their nutrients. And weeds that attach to plant roots can quietly steal the nutrients from your plants while appearing innocuous above the soil. This is why weed identification and removal is so important.
Weeds can increase the risk of pest infestation
If weeds spread throughout your yard and grow alongside your plants, eventually, pests may begin to attack your plants. This is because pests often attack plants and trees that have been weakened due to a lack of nutrients, water and sunlight. So, if you allow weeds to grow alongside your plants, slugs, snails and other pests may soon make a meal out of them.
For more information or to get help with weed control, contact a local tree service.