May 28th, 2010
Spring Showers bring June…WEEDS!
While all the recent rains have been great news for our forests and for gardeners they also have a less desirable effect-they bring out all sorts of weeds, many of them considered noxious or invasive in Idaho. And noxious weeds aren’t just along highways or in farmers fields, they are often right in our own backyards, literally! Now is a great time to identify and take appropriate control measures against un-welcome weeds as many of them have not yet flowered or produced seeds. Landowners in Idaho are responsible for controlling and properly disposing of noxious weeds growing on their property. So whether you just want to “do the right thing” or avoid a fine it would make sense to educate yourself about weeds, survey your property for weeds, and if necessary take steps to control them. While most weeds will be found in vacant lots or in alleyways they can appear almost anywhere. I just removed several thistles that are considered noxious from the edge of my driveway in Boise’s East End. I’ve even had them come up in my raised bed garden.
Fortunately there are some good resources to not only help you identify all types of weeds, but also on proper control and disposal methods. Some weeds spread using rhizomes or runners underground or will re-grow if their tap root is not completely removed so simply whacking weeds down before they go to seed often is not the solution. One great resource here in Idaho is the Erickson Weed Laboratory at the University of Idaho http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/weeds/Erickson/Erickson.htm. They have several ways for you to submit weed samples or photo for identification. I recently filled out their form and emailed it to them along with digital photos and I got a positive identification back the same day. Another option is the Ada County extension office on Glenwood St. http://www.uidaho.edu/extension/ada/hcontent/resources. You can take weeds samples to them for ID and they can provide lots of good information on control and disposal as well as general gardening information. If you happen to live in Boise’s North End you may have seen a great article in their most recent Newsletter on common noxious weeds in the North End. The information is thorough and should apply to most everywhere in Boise. You can also view it on line at http://www.northendboise.org/Default.aspx?pageId=267401
And finally, because this is a real estate site, another reason to get out there and deal with those weeds is if you are selling or considering selling your home. The presence of weeds can be a real turn off for buyers and may either consciously or subconsciously lead them to believe the house is not well maintained or may have other issues. For more information on preparing your house for sale and the importance of landscaping and curb appeal please don’t hesitate to contact myself or another agent in our office.
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