In summer 2015, USDA-ARS and UC Davis Dept of Plant Sciences set up a water hyacinth control study with California Department of Boating & Waterways. The goal of the study was to determine the best of several different surfactants to pair with an aquatic-use formulation of glyphosate.

Aquatic weed trials are tricky compared to terrestrial trials, because the test sites are three-dimensional and they move around. In addition, water hyacinth is free-floating. In order to establish secure test plots, we built floating 1-m² quadrats out of PVC pipe, swim noodles, and construction fencing.

On 31 July, we anchored the quadrats in open water within a sunken island in the Sacramento delta. Quadrats were...

A recent announcement for the Twentynine Palms (CA) annual weed show got me thinking about how we (okay...I...) view unwanted plants. As a weed scientist, I spend >99% of my time thinking critically about weeds...specifically, their biology, ecology and management. The remainder of the time, I am actually enjoying them as botanical specimens worthy of admiration. In honor of the Twentynine Palms Historical Society's 75th (75th!!!!!) annual weed show (November 7 and 8, 2015), I'm providing you with something completely different...a few of my photographs highlighting weeds in their own unique glory.

Enjoy.

Control of weeds has always been a major economic cost in subtropical fruit production because of favorable climate that allows for weed germination and year-round growth. The use of chemical weed control has increased dramatically due to labor costs, equipment costs, product costs and availability, the shift to more narrowly spaced tree rows, and installation of low volume irrigation systems that prohibit the operation of mowing or tillage equipment under the tree canopy area (Futch...

In a recent blog post, Dr. Clyde Elmore discussed weed species changes in urban environments in response to the ongoing drought. One weed that can thrive under dry conditions is field bindweed, a significant weedy pest for homeowners, land managers, and farmers, alike.

NOMENCLATURE:

Field bindweed was first named by Linnaeus in 1753; its Latin binomial (Convolvulus arvensis) is derived from convolvere ("to roll together") and arvense ("in the field"). Which is pretty appropriate, if you ask me.

BINDWEED BIOLOGY

Field bindweed is a persistent perennial in...