You're right. Weeds have been a problem since cultivation began.
Shakespeare said "Sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste." The
Bible tells us that when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden the
ground would be cursed and produce thorns and thistles. The weed war has
been raging for a long time and will continue to do so. Have you ever tried to
rid your lawn of dandelions? If so you know how much effort it takes. Imagine
fighting against the spread of plants that seem determined to be the only plant
in the environment. That is the difference.
A weed can be defined as any plant growing where it is not wanted. Most noxious weeds are not native to the United States and therefore have no natural controls. They are often described by the 3 D’s:
Nevada lawmakers realized the danger presented by these invaders when they passed state law NRS 555.005 which requires landowners to control noxious weeds found on their property and prohibits the sale of plants considered noxious.
Noxious weeds steal our land and our money.
Have you ever tried to get to your favorite fishing hole or just wanted to check the view at a highway overlook but couldn’t because of the giant thistle plants choking your path? They were most likely Scotch thistle – a noxious weed.
Fences and political boundaries do not matter to these invaders. Private land, public parks, golf courses, homeowners’ association open space, highway right of ways and federal & state lands are all prime targets for noxious weeds. Ranchers lose valuable forage acreage. Wildlife variety is affected by lost habitat. Some noxious weeds are poisonous to wildlife, livestock, and people. Forest fire intensity and frequency increase in areas with noxious weeds. Preferred/quality recreation areas are lost. Individual homeowners spend hours controlling these weeds.
Who pays for all this? You do. In some situations the land is so damaged it is lost to any kind of use. The presence of noxious weeds decreases real estate values. It drives up the cost of agriculture and recreation. Land managers must increase spending to control noxious weeds. They hire extra employees, purchase chemical controls and equipment. The end result is increased user fees and higher taxes. Need we say more?
Now we’re talking. Take a look at our Weed ID and Control page and our Prevention page.
Are you wondering if all this really works? Click here to see Before & After success pictures.