UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia)

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.

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.

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.

You may have heard about ASD (anaerobic soil disinfestation) as biological alternative to soil fumigation'. This is the practice of adding easily degradable carbon sources to soil and developing anaerobic conditions under plastic mulch in moist soils for 3-5 weeks.

Conventional strawberry producers should consider use of cereal cover-crops in the furrows of strawberry plantings. The advantages of this are improved water percolation, reduced soil erosion as well as weed suppression.