The same question has come up several times in the last week:
What is the best way to manage weeds in my garden? I guess the
appearance of the first crop of winter-rain driven weeds in our
gardens area has something to do with this! Where do they come
from, and why are they so tough? Weeds, unlike the veggies and
flowers we plant, have grown forever without any help from man;
they are survivors. Our crops, on the other hand, are selected
for food qualities, not survival. Weeds come from everywhere;
wind, birds flying over, seeds or burrs stuck to your clothes;
all are effective ways weeds spread their seed. Think of the
soil as a ‘seed bank’. There are withdrawals (weeds germinated
and killed, eaten by insects, dying from old age) and deposits
(weeds going to seed, wind, etc.). Weed seeds have what is
referred to as ‘latency’ or waiting for the right conditions to
germinate. Some seeds will germinate as soon as they hit the
ground, others will wait, and some have specific requirements,
including being burned,