Weeds Vs. Weeds

 Henbit, Lamium amplexicaule, Photo ©Porter

I have been asked about this new weed, but I fear it is anything but new. The odd warm winter has just let this weed thrive. Henbit, , is really a beautiful weed, but before we discuss whether we want it in our yard or not, lets discuss why this is a weed.

Most define a "weed" as a plant growing in a place that is undesirable to us. That could mean a beautiful native Red Maple sprouts in my vegetable garden, therefore, it is a weed. In all honesty, that Red Maple, or weed, probably belongs there more than my vegetable garden. It is native and mother nature made the decision, not I; but technically, it is a weed.

Many weeds, like Henbit, are invasive and exotic species. They come from other parts of the world, either by trade or pioneers, and have naturalized here as a result. Often these exotic species choke out and out-compete our beautiful native species that belong here, and many of our wild friends in the area depend on.

Henbit, On Campus, Photo ©Porter

Hand pulling Henbit and other weeds is the best control, but rather labor intensive. Another great way to control weeds before they happen is to have a great stand of turf and/or plants to out-compete weeds before they take hold. Chemical control is an option for larger jobs, but remember, chemical control can and will often damage nearby plants and trees, even when manufacturers claim they won't.

If your anything like me, your yard is growing faster than time allows to work on it! This weekend I was planning on a nice hike, but I fear my yard is beckoning me to show it some much needed attention. Hope your enjoying this weather, and thanks for reading!

Grounds Long Range Forecast... (Part 2)

Daffodil, Narcissus, more trustworthy than a groundhog. ©Porter

So here we are again, talking about the future, and looking at how far we have come. These spring like temperatures are starting to spoil us, and is changing our maintenance schedule as a result, we are seeing weeds popping up like crazy!

So lets talk a little about trees. I fear this is going to be a tough season for our trees, freezing rain late in the winter into early spring can sometimes cause a lot of damage to our trees, and the see-saw temperatures we are seeing forecast could be a recipe for some freezing rain and ice storms. We have experienced this often the last couple of years, and we have had extensive damage and bud kill as a result, which often we see the results of this damage later in the year with little fruiting and decay. We will just have to stay rooted and keep our fingers crossed...

Lone Crocus vernus on campus, from many moons passed, 

still greeting spring after all these years... ©Porter

One thing I always get excited about is green projects and ideas we have here at S.C.C, and we have a lot coming up in 2012! The grounds department always takes great pride in incorporating sustainable practices and projects in our everyday procedures. One large project we are going to continue to improve is our Single Stream Recycling procedures. We also have plans to reduce chemical needs and waste by planting more perennials and natives around campus, so keep a look out for some big changes in that respect!

We will also be sure to support all the green initiatives around campus, working with other departments, and supporting events like the Living Green Expo, taking an active role in our S.C.C. Green Team, and assisting student clubs and organizations in their endeavors around campus. Keep an eye on this Blog for more information on these happenings as they bloom!

As always, thanks for reading, now get outside!