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<br />.t:T:141Il:.":'\11r,J~
<br />
<br />versus weco." wcre found. The ll;st 1..:.ln be rereatcu al
<br />regular intcrv..lb to monitor the effectivcncss of weed
<br />control efforts. Whatcver the sclcl:tcd tolerance level,
<br />it should be realistic. Forcxnmple, zero weed tolerance
<br />is prohably un~1lt:lin;lhlc in the long run.
<br />
<br />Whar {{God are wer:Js?
<br />
<br />Weeds can tcll a lot about soil conditions. For
<br />example. sedges indicate poorly drained soil. Wild
<br />mustards arc asign of comp<lctcdsoil or soil with.1 hard
<br />cruslo Field peppergrass appears in alkaline soils. Dai.
<br />sies show poor fertility, while lamb's quartcr could
<br />indicate the opposite. Ifcloveris common in your lawn
<br />(and you didn't plant it) it indicatcs that nitrogen levels
<br />may be low. Since the clover fixes nitrogen, it can do
<br />well in areas where the grass may go
<br />hungry. Dandelions are especially
<br />common in lawns with acid surface
<br />soil.
<br />
<br />.IH."...,....'\,..".\"""""-;...,U..Jl'.'lJll..I'.,VI,?~1l1lTI!R':'\r""'~
<br />
<br />A lawn with
<br />zero weeds is
<br />not attainable.
<br />
<br />Composting weeds that have been
<br />removed by hand can take advantage
<br />of desirable weed qualities. Most
<br />weeds help feed the compost pile. but plants like
<br />dandelions provide a special service. Called dynamic
<br />accumulators, they reach deep into the soil for essential
<br />elements. Traditional lawncare often recommends a
<br />feeding of iron to green up the lawn (not surprising
<br />since excess phosphorus can lead to iron deficiency).
<br />Instead. common weeds such as dandelion. chick~
<br />weed, plantain, purslane. and lamb's quarter Clln be
<br />used for iron accumulation.
<br />
<br />.1<1.\ .....,o""'\vH,\lU.17t",~I'\I~\Al\I\~~\...VI/l!"~I\.n'" .\,~~
<br />
<br />Many weeds also attr3ct beneficial insects if al-
<br />lowed to flower. These insects need pollen or nectar in
<br />addition to the protein they get from consuming pests.
<br />For ex.ample, ladybugs feed on dandelion pollen and
<br />clover. In early spring, when not much is blooming,
<br />dandelions can be a very important food source for
<br />overwintering ladybugs, Predatory WilSpS take ad van.
<br />tage of chickweed, while mustard attracts a variety of
<br />beneficial insects. Thus, weeds,in the lawn can actually
<br />help plants in surrounding vegetable and Hower beds.
<br />
<br />Of course, insects aren't the only ones that find
<br />weeds appetizing. Some of the most common weeds
<br />are uncommonly nutritious for people. Before im-
<br />ported greens were available YC:lr-round. these plants
<br />served an important dietary function.
<br />
<br />Leasr.roxic \Veed cOlllrol
<br />
<br />There are four tct:lmiques 10 least toxic wecd con-
<br />trol: cultivation. solarization, mowing. and hcrbieitbl
<br />soap. Cultivation means physically weeding. :IIHI tl}L'n
<br />.seeding. \Yhile it seems like a lut or work, there :Ire
<br />many devices available (() make weeding t:;lsicr. (n allY
<br />C,lSC, no lIliuter how wc('ds arc n::lllovcLl, the resultill~
<br />han.: spots should always be leveled ;md n:-sl.'edolltl
<br />
<br />prevellt weeds i'rom reOl.:curring. Solarizalillll involves
<br />(,;{)vering a wcedy polIch with hlack plastic for ;1 few
<br />days In shade out the weeus while !Laving the ,gr;l:'s
<br />intat:!. If an ;!rea is completely infested. dear plastic
<br />t:an be used 10 "t:Dok"the weeds (and thcir seeds in 111t:
<br />ground) for several weeks. Gra.:>s t::.1n tht:n he re.
<br />cstahli.shed in thc resultant clc<lrcd patch. In addition to
<br />selling mowing height:) to shude uut growing \vl.:t:ds.
<br />mowing lhe tops of tall WCCd5 will wC:lkcn the P];:lIHS
<br />and t:ut down on .:>ecd formation. He-rhicidal sO;lfls t:an
<br />be used to spot trcal weeds, but keep in mind '!ht:y ,Ire-
<br />toxic to all plants they touch. Hcrbir.;idal soaps usu;llly
<br />break down in 48 hours.
<br />
<br />.While all four lcasHoxic control techniques ;m:
<br />preferable to blanket herbicide applications, weed pre.
<br />vcntion is an even better option. The best de fensc
<br />against weeds ,is vigorous, heailhy grass. If the
<br />homeowner follows the eightsreps in this article weeds
<br />will not nann ally be a problem,
<br />
<br />Finally, a lawn can be more [han a green carpet. It
<br />can include nttractive flowers and liVIng fertiliur
<br />factories. It enn supplement the vegetable harvest and
<br />encourage beneficial insects to take up residence. Such
<br />a lawn is both more interesting and more functional
<br />than the traditional gr;lss monoculture lawn. Some call
<br />it a "wild lawn" or a "flowery meade". \Vhile it is
<br />indeed wilder than a traditional lawn, it is still low
<br />growing and morc fannal in appeJ.f:lI1ce th<ln a mea.dow.
<br />In the wild lawn, many so-called weeds become part of
<br />lhe design.
<br />
<br />~tep ::, Integ~ated pe~t management
<br />'Yi(EstribliSiiiirealislidoler.iicelevel for pests and
<br />."use ~~a~t toxic:c~ntrol methods to maintain it. For a
<br />;.low inpu~ hlwn;use least toxic' c'antrol methods such as
<br />removing" 'or trapping' pe'sts. introducing biological
<br />. ' .
<br />cqntr91 agents, or apply leastloxic chemical controls
<br />/'su~.h ;a~ ~p~ecdci~bl so~p~;'fP(~]p.;~er;input la~vn. grow
<br />strong..healthy grasst.halchn.resist attack: For the
<br />Jbl~eS(i~put I~wn, us'cfphysf9'liI-'controls to prevent
<br />'.:... :,...~, '.: . ." .. .,. ,c-" : ,;' .., ': .",-. 'Y'''''.':. <:: .:~,..,:. : . ;
<br />'infestation, protect natm-a!predators, and add benefi.
<br />':~I~f~oi1.'~icrob~s~ :>~t,.~::;;'<'~l'" ,.'l .
<br />
<br />What is integrated pest numagemenr?
<br />
<br />The best defense against pes[s is hC:llthy. vig\)HllIS
<br />grass. T.lbk: 2 compares m~ljor grass types ft)r insect.
<br />resistance. Cultivars spcci:\l1y dcvdop.::tl for insect or
<br />disease rcsi~tanc~ :1re :l1so :\vaibhlc. \Vhe:n more \.."01\-
<br />trol is nee-ded, Inlegratcd Pest r-..lanagcmell{ lIPM) Lan
<br />cnntrol pests witll i',lr r,.:-wcr pt.'slit:idcs lhan IC1Jili\}11~1I
<br />bWllcan:. The I PM apprnadl L'Ollsist:; (If rour steps 111:11
<br />:m.: tah:n hefore any pt.'SI it.ide is used:
<br />
<br />I. An"uro,.c lit'S. i{lt'lItilicllion and monitoring.
<br />To :;cln:1 thL" right l.'\llllrul, i[ i:-i nL.:(~'ss~II'Y to kill'\'.'
<br />IhL" "good" hllgs frnl1l the. ..had" tl1\t.'S. :lIld k;lrtl
<br />their lik.cyL'lcs. h\ft':Cllllpk. irhp:lllt'St: hct.tk:-
<br />
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