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When it's hot there are weeds
 When
we get to July and the
temperatures are hot, the summer
crop of weeds shows up en mass
in flower beds and shrub beds in
particular.
Anytime you're dealing with
weeds, the best defense is the
proverbial offense. Being
proactive right from the start
gets weeds under control and
keeps your landscape looking
neat and trim.
What IS a weed?
We think of the common weeds
like dandelions and thistle when
we hear the W-word. But a
weed can be any plant that is
growing in the wrong place.
An acorn that falls and starts
to sprout an oak tree that will
grow under the eaves of your
house is really a weed.
Any plant that is misplaced for
aesthetic or practical reasons
needs to be treated like the
standard weed and removed.
Hot season weeds
Typical weeds in the hottest
part of the growing season
include spurge, purslane,
mallow, bindweed and thistle.
With the exception of bindweed
and thistle, one of the best
controls is simply using
mechanical means to eradicate
them-namely, pulling them out or
hoeing, if the area permits.
But don't pull that thistle or
bindweed!
If you've ever noticed that some
weeds seem to proliferate after
you pull them, you're right!
This actually happens with
certain weeds that have
regenerative root systems.
Literally, the more you pull
them, the more weeds you'll get
back.
When it comes to thistle and
field bindweed, stop before you
pull! Both of these
weeds have amazingly long root
systems. When you pull
these weeds, most of the root
system remains underground and
will simply grow more weeds to
replace the one you pulled.
The best control for these weeds
is applying a treatment that
will kill the above-ground plant
and the root system so that they
will be dealt with for good.
If these weeds are in the lawn,
be sure to select a product that
will not harm the grass.
Some herbicides used to zap the
designated weed may be harmful
to other plants due to drift.
Be very careful what you spray
and when, as even a slight
breeze can take the product
where you don't want it.
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