TODAY IS NATIONAL WEED APPRECIATION DAY (USA)

March 28, 2022

National weed appreciation day is on March 28th.

Weeds—the plants that grow independently in nature—crowd out vegetables that are planted in your garden. Weeds directly compete for the resources that are needed by the vegetable plants: space to grow vegetables, soil, nutrients, sun light, air and water. Some plants will grow from the smallest of pieces. Some plants are banned. Some of the aquatic plants that grow quickly in your pond or natural waterways can finally block out light to the depths of the pond or waterways.

Take the day to learn more about some of the benefits of plants around us—weeds, flora, and fauna. People have used some weeds—edible and nutritious, for food. Weeds also have other benefits—medicinal properties. Therefore, some weeds have been used by people, as herbs. Weeds attract, and increase the number of pollinators, so that the weeds help improve the chances of pollination of the plants in your vegetable garden.

The more weeds you have, the more insects you will harbor. The more insects you have, the more predators you will attract to help controlling pests on your plants: birds, spiders and beneficial insects.

Weeds grow independently, and therefore, your vegetable plants’ pollination will be affected negatively. Competition for the resources, in your vegetable garden, is increasing with the availability of too many weeds. Pollinators can easily find weed flowers, and your plants' flowers will become less attractive to them. Nonnative weeds grow wildly due to the absence of natural controls. Weed diseases spread to vegetable plants as well.

Therefore, you have to control the weeds in your vegetable garden. Pull the weed when soil is well moist. Dig up and remove pieces in the soil. The weed can be cut each time they emerge, the weed is unable to grow without photosynthesis. You can also cover the weeds, so that they cannot find light for photosynthesis.

The images were captured as it was found happening in nature, and not enhanced using software. Images may be subject to copyright.