• Blog
    • General Gardening
    • Gardening for Children
    • Gardening Videos
    • Insect Pests
    • Landscape Design
    • Trees
    • Vegetables & Fruits
    • Weeds
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Event Announcements
  • Gardening Videos
  • Resources
    • Western North Carolina Gardening Guide
    • Online Resources
      • Soil Testing Information for Home Gardeners
    • Speakers Bureau
  • Garden Helpline
    • Collecting Samples of Plants and Insects
  • The Learning Garden
  • About Us
    • About Us
      • How to Become an Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
    • The Association
    • Contact Us
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Sponsors
      • Sponsors: 2019 WNC Gardening Symposium
    • Donate
Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County
Blog / Pest Management / Invasive Plants / Plant Bullies, Part I

Plant Bullies, Part I

April 5, 2016

Back in ’96, 1896 that is, the USDA was explaining to farmers* that “A large proportion of the plants growing along roadsides, on waste ground or older cultivated parts of this country are migratory weeds. They’re not native to where they are now found but have come from other countries or other places in this country.” USDA could use those same words to describe our situation today. Now we call them “invasives” but they move around by the same means as in 1896.

When you think of it, plants have to be able to move or spread to make room for their offspring or find more habitable ground. That USDA Yearbook* went on to describe how plants do move about, starting with the natural methods such as runners. Others throw their seeds as the pod matures and dries. Some seeds such as dandelions or water walnuts are carried further by the wind. Some move by other clever means.Artificial methods of 1896 seed locomotion included one we don’t worry too much about these days – when “cheaper grades of imported crockery are packed in cheap hay or straw”. Or mixed with commercial seeds? The Yearbook had drawings of different seeds so farmers could identify some common “good” vs bad.

The need to clean farm machinery between work in different fields was mentioned. Hmmm, have you ever borrowed a neighbor’s mower? Or rented a tiller? They often come with seeds attached.

Even back in 1896 there were “weeds introduced as useful or ornamental plants…seed of oxeye daisy is said to have been brought to Rhode Island and planted to obtain horse’s feed.” And so on…

The point is that now is the season to keep an eye out for newcomers on your homestead. Look for plants that seem to have spread rapidly, plants that weren’t there last year, or perhaps plants that you cannot identify. Get them while they’re small and easy to control just in case they might be bullies.

If you do have a questionable plant, bring it in for identification. Remember that Extension has moved. We’re now at 49 Mt. Carmel Road in Erwin Hills. The phone number didn’t change: 828-255-5522.

*From the Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture 1896

Next week part II will review options for dealing with those bullies.

Written by Glenn Palmer, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Categories Invasive Plants Tags weeds

NC Cooperative Extension; Empowering People, Providing Solutions

Blog posts written and published by Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers in Buncombe County.

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 3,716 other subscribers

Recent Posts

  • Saturday Seminar: Pruning Tools Workshop—Tool Selection and Sharpening, February 18
  • Online Seminar: Fruit Trees for Home Gardens February 16
  • Dramatic Winter Damage? What Should I Do?
  • What’s THAT Evergreen? Can I grow it?
  • A Gardening Guide for Our Mountains: The Perfect Holiday Stocking Stuffer

Categories

  • Events
    • Extension in Buncombe County
    • Extension Master Gardener Plant Clinic
    • Lectures & Seminars
    • Plant Sales
    • School Garden Grants
  • Flowers
    • Bulbs
    • Perennials & Biennials
    • Roses
    • Wildflowers
  • Gardening for Children
  • Gardening Videos
  • General Gardening
    • Installation & Planting
    • Mulch
    • Native Plants
    • Propagation
    • Seasonal Chores
    • Soils & Fertilizers
  • Houseplants
  • Landscaping
    • Firewise Landscaping
    • Landscape Design
    • Site Conditions
    • Water Management
  • Lawns
  • Pest Management
    • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
    • Invasive Plants
    • Pesticides
    • Weeds
  • Plant Diseases
  • Plant Insects
    • Beneficial Insects
    • Insect Pests
    • Invasive Insects
  • Shrubs
  • Special Gardens
    • Container Gardens
    • Herb Gardens
    • Pollinator Gardens
    • Rain Gardens
    • Shade Gardens
  • Trees
  • Vegetables & Fruits
  • Wildlife

Contact Us

Buncombe County Extension Office
49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Helpline 828-255-5522

Events

Keep up with our events by subscribing to the blog or checking our Events Calendar.

Explore the Archives

Back to Top

Copyright © 2023 Extension Master Gardeners of Buncombe County. Privacy Policy.