Observations about weeds

[Andy Carson]

It has been interesting watching the weeds change over the last couple years I have been working my field with animals and without herbicides. I do not know what this means, but I thought I would share anyway. Perhaps there is a meaning full interpretation.

When I first started working this field, it had been in corn for several years. The first year out of corn the field had heavy pressure from goldenrod, and had scattered growth of wild carrot, plantain, and ragweed. When the tall weeds were cut, tilled, or not present there was alot of volunteer clover and crabgrass.

Over time, the weed pressure has changed quite a bit. I fight rhizomatous grasses a lot, but the non-grass species have changed as well. I almost never see goldenrod in the field anymore. Instead, I see dandelion, thistle, morningglory, and lambsquarters. I still see plantain from time to time, but haven’t seen any wild carrot or ragweed in a while. Also, volunteer clover is much reduced and the crabgrass seems to be gone (or just competed away by other grasses).

Again, I don’t know what this means, but it is very interesting to watch the evolution of the weeds.

[Author]

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