Wouldn’t it be nice to come up with a plant that would grow virtually anywhere, on any soil type, taking very little work and very little fertilization?

Too late, those plants have already been introduced and every producer is growing them.

And they’re commonly referred to as weeds.

By definition, according to Curtis Thompson, Kansas State University Extension weed scientist, a weed is a plant that is considered undesirable, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted.

No doubt. That about sums up what everyone out there considers a weed.

And in order to control weeds, Thompson told producers at the recent Weed Management School in Columbus, Kan., an Integrated Weed Management system is essential.

“Weeds have growth cycles just like other plants,” he explained. “There are winter annuals, summer annuals, biennials and perennials.”

So not only do weeds grow nearly all year, they also produce thousands of seeds which can be spread around in a number of ways.

“Weed seeds can be dispersed by wind and rain as well as by mechanical means, such as on tires or through combines,” Thompson said.

The tough part about controlling weeds, according to him, is that even though the seeds are dispersed all over they don’t all grow every year.

“Weed seeds can be alive in the soil for years and they won’t grow until there is tillage or something that triggers them to grow,” he explained.

There are a number of factors that affect weed seed germination including moisture, oxygen/carbon dioxide, temperature, light and the presence of inhibitors.

“Weed species vary in their requirements,” he said. “Pigweed species require light and won’t grow until they are tilled up out of the ground. Some weed seeds can remain dormant in the soil until certain inhibitors take place and then they grow.”

And then, just to add a little insult to injury, there are not only grass-type weeds, but broadleaf weeds as well.

The type, however, may not be nearly as important as the size, according to Thompson.