THE TOP 5 SUPER WEEDS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Super weeds are bad (almost malevolent) plants that grow really well. They are usually an invasive species which means an imported plant that grows super aggressively and causes damage to native plants. They usually thrive in difficult areas and in poor soil. They also usually have seeds that germinate easily and perpetuate the spread. It is like an evil villain from a Marvel movie that is almost impossible to kill. We spotlight 4 of the worst Super Weeds we have to try to manage. If you are unfortunate enough to have one of these Super Weeds show up on your property, they can be difficult to manage. If you ignore these and they take over you will rue the day.
Super weeds are bad (almost malevolent) plants that grow really well. They are usually an invasive species which means an imported plant that grows super aggressively and causes damage to native plants. They usually thrive in difficult areas and in poor soil. They also usually have seeds that germinate easily and perpetuate the spread. It is like an evil villain from a Marvel movie that is almost impossible to kill. We spotlight 4 of the worst Super Weeds we have to try to manage. If you are unfortunate enough to have one of these Super Weeds show up on your property, they can be difficult to manage. If you ignore these and they take over you will rue the day.
SUPER WEED: JAPANESE KNOTWEED
Japanese knotweed spreads by it seeds (pictured) but it also spreads by its roots. Attempts to remove this by cutting it down is the same as mowing your lawn, because it encourages root growth that encourages new shoots causing it to spread.
SUPER WEED: Oriental Bittersweet
This strong fast-growing vine covers or strangles everything in its wake. The orange fruit in the fall is its most attractive and obvious attribute. Berceuse of its aesthetic autumn appeal well intentioned people use bittersweet vines to make decorative wreaths. Unfortunately, birds eat the fruit spreading this scourge everywhere.
SUPER WEED: Phragmites
It likes wet soil but it can grow anywhere. It can take over large areas quickly. It spreads like grass sending up new shoots from its roots. With the recent warmer winters these spread even more rapidly because roots grow when the soil temperature is above 36 degrees Fahrenheit With the lack of frozen ground recently these invasive species can be even more prolific.
SUPER WEED: POISON IVY
Although poison ivy is a native it shows up almost everywhere and it grows very quickly. Similar to invasive plants, it spreads by its small white fruit as through root growth. It grows on the ground in the woods, in fields and on tree trunks. It is something you want to get rid of but it’s certainly not something you want to deal with. Because it is best known for the rash it causes. It makes you itchy just looking at the picture. To give the devil its due, it does have beautiful red fall color
For more information on invasive plants in Massachusetts please visit The Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group or MIPAG’s website at MIPAG – Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (massnrc.org)
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