Why scout for weeds?

While weeds are present in every orchard, there is variation in the weed species composition and density from orchard to orchard. Scouting for weeds is the basis for a good Integrated Weed Management (IWM) plan. Information gathered from weed scouting allows growers to:

• Evaluate the current year's weed control program
• Adjust control practices for the following year
• Discover weed stands and possible resistance before they spread throughout the orchard
• Select the best control option for species of concern, such as:

• Choosing appropriate management...

Have you listened to a Growing the Valley podcast? Here are a couple you might want to check out.

Old and New Perennial Weeds with Dr. Brad Hanson

In this short episode, Phoebe Gordon chats with Dr. Brad Hanson, Weed Specialist with UC Davis. They talk about perennial weed management, as well as two species that have recently become problematic in orchard crops: alkaliweed and threespike goosegrass. We don't know a...

Weeds compete with crops for light, water, and nutrients, which can result in yield reductions. Weeds can also interfere with crop production by serving as alternate hosts for pests and pathogens, providing habitat for rodents, and impeding harvest operations, among other impacts. Natural areas can also be impacted by weed species when they reduce aesthetics and disrupt ecosystem services. As a consequence, growers and land managers employ a variety of control strategies, including the application of herbicides, to manage unwanted vegetation.

Although herbicides can be effective tools for controlling undesirable plants, failures can and do occur. Weeds may escape chemical treatments for several reasons including: the selection...