Why Are Weeds Harmful?

Weeds are considered to be a huge pest when it comes to maintaining your outdoor space, but are they really all that bad?

While there are types of weeds that are generally harmless to humans and animals, all weeds pose a threat to the health of your plants and grass.

Whether you are dealing with common garden weeds or dangerous and toxic weeds, weed management is the best way to ensure that you and your lawn stay happy and healthy!

Keep reading to learn more about why weeds are bad and how to get rid of them:

How Weeds Affect Grass

When weeds invade your lawn, they compete with grass for water, air, and nutrients. 

For example, if you fertilize your lawn, weeds will soak up the nutrients before they can benefit your lawn’s growth.

This can weaken grass plants and cause other issues with your lawn, such as disease, insect infestations, and drought.

Weeds will also compete for space and can spread quickly, eventually taking over your lush lawn.

You can help prevent the growth of weeds on your lawn by keeping your grass thick and lush. Having a dense lawn will help to crowd out weeds by reducing available space for them to grow.

If you have thin or bare patches in your yard, seed these areas every fall to thicken your grass.

You can also deter weeds by mowing only when you need to. By keeping your grass 3 to 3.5 inches tall, you can keep the soil shaded and reduce weed growth.

How Weeds Affect Plants

The plants in your yard require lots of nutrients, nitrogen, and potassium for optimal growth.

When weeds are present among your plants, they will leech valuable nutrients and prevent your plants from thriving.

They will also make your plants vulnerable to diseases and insect infestations.

Here are some other reasons why weeds are bad for your plants:

• Weeds will compromise the space around your plants and prevent them from growing.

• Some weeds also act as parasites and will attach themselves to the root systems or stems of other plants, causing the plant to lose important nutrients.

• Weeds can cause abnormal growth and color in certain fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, blueberries, and squash.

You can prevent weeds from growing around your plants by applying a pre-emergent herbicide to your gardens to prevent weeds from germinating.

Growing your plants close together will reduce space for weeds to grow and shade the soil so weeds cannot access sunlight.

You can also smother weeds by mulching your garden beds.

Toxic Weeds

Are weeds harmful to humans and animals?

Some can be! These are known as toxic weeds.

Toxic weeds are sometimes referred to as “noxious weeds.” Noxious weeds are those designated by local governments as injurious to public health, wildlife, or property.

Government officials can implement quarantines around the weed, as well as contain or destroy it to prevent its spread.

However, toxic weeds can refer to any unwanted plant that is poisonous, cause irritation, or produce copious amounts of pollen.

Weeds That Are Toxic to Humans

How toxic a weed is to an individual can depend on their sensitivity to that plant. For example, poison ivy doesn’t cause itching and rashes for everyone.

Yet keep in mind that there are toxic weeds, such as stringing nettle, that will irritate anyone who touches it.

Here are some weeds that are harmful to humans:

• Poison Ivy: Poison ivy is mostly found along the edges of moist, deciduous forests. They grow in small shrubs or as climbing vines and can cause redness, blisters, or an itchy rash if any part of the plant comes into contact with skin.

• Poison Oak: This toxic weed grows in woodland, coastal, and urban areas and looks like a dense deciduous shrub with 1 to 4-inch long leaves covered in fine hair. Poison oak contains the same chemical as poison ivy, which causes similar symptoms.

• Stinging Nettle: Stinging nettle likes to grow in areas such as riverbanks, roadsides, gardens, and orchards. This broadleaf weed has bristly hairs that can cause red patches, itching, and burning that can last over 12 hours.

• Nightshade: Nightshade can grow in gardens, woods, and along roadsides and features a purple bell-shaped or white star-shaped flower. It produces dark purple or red fruit. Handling the plant can cause dermatitis but eating it can be poisonous.

• Poison Hemlock: You’ll find this toxic weed in moist and shaded areas. It has stout stems with purple spots, small white flowers, and fern-like leaves. Every part of this weed is poisonous to humans and animals and can be fatal if ingested!

Weeds That Are Toxic to Animals

We know that there are toxic weeds that are harmful to humans, but are weeds harmful to dogs and other animals?

You bet!

While many toxic weeds are unpalatable and taste bad to animals, curiosity may still get the better of them and lead to taking a bite.

How badly a toxic weed affects an animal depends on a few factors, such as how much was ingested, how big the animal is, and the animal’s overall health.

However, if ever you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic weed, please consult with your veterinarian immediately!

Here are some toxic weeds you should keep away from your pets and livestock:

• Milkweed: Common milkweed typically grows in fields and roadsides and has oval leaves with teardrop-shaped seed pods. This weed contains toxins that are poisonous and harmful to the heart. 

• Parthenium: This tall weed is particularly toxic to cattle and can cause dermatitis and breathing issues.

• Tansy: Tansy is a weed that has vibrant yellow blooms, but its toxins can cause liver and kidney damage in animals.

• Cowbane: Cowbane grows all over Canada and has clusters of white flowers surrounded by leaves. If consumed by an animal, the toxins can cause stomach upset, seizures, and even death.

Thankfully, toxic weeds that can harm pets don’t grow as commonly in cultivated yards as other types of weeds.

But many people wonder if dandelion weeds are bad for dogs and cats.

Dandelions are not at all harmful to your pet if eaten. In fact, dandelions are packed with vitamins A, C, and K! 

But even though this harmless and pesky weed may give your pet a nutrition boost, make sure they don’t eat too many - dogs, in particular, don’t digest plants very well and could end up with a stomach ache.

How to Kill Bad Weeds

If you’re looking for a natural and organic way to kill bad weeds, you may be out of luck.

Some weeds, especially toxic ones, cannot be controlled organically and need a more aggressive approach to eliminate them.

This doesn’t mean you have to douse your lawn in harmful chemicals, though! 

A limited application of appropriate chemicals can quickly address bad weeds without harming your lawn and the health of you and your pets.

Professional Weed Management Services

Don’t let harmful weeds put you, your pets, and your lawn at risk!

Marksmen Vegetation Management offers herbicide applications to protect your green spaces and your health.

We offer a comprehensive warranty on many of our programs to ensure that our work is guaranteed!

To learn more about our weed management services, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!