Everyone Has Excuses!

This year we heard a number of excuses from landowners about their weed control efforts, or lack there of. The following are the excuses and the reality of the situations.

1. “Its ok, I sprayed the Canada thistle in post flower with hairspray. The seeds won’t blow around.”

Reality: That had better be one industrial strength formula for this to work. As far as I know using hairspray to keep the seeds on the plant does not work.

2. “I sprayed the post flower Canada thistle with oil.”

Reality: Another nice attempt at smothering the plant. However, oil still is not heavy enough to stop the wind from blowing the Canada thistle seed around.

3. “I can’t get through the fence.” Or “I’ll have to move the fence.”

Reality: Have you heard of a gate? Dropping the fence to the ground? Setting the hand equipment over the fence and then crawling through? Ok, move the fence. Not a good excuse.

4. Multiple variations of: “My equipment (tractor, mower, sprayer, etc.) is broken.” Or “The tractor overheats.”

Reality: These maybe true situations. However, the weeds still need to be addressed and stopped from going to seed. Make other arrangements to get the equipment up and running.

5. “I can’t find the weeds.”

Reality: Do you need glasses? But seriously, call us (970) 304-6496 ext. 3770. We will come out and show you the weeds we are concerned with, help develop a management plan and leave you with maps of your property and color pictures of the weed species.

6. “But the weeds have been here for the last 50 years.”

Reality: Yes, this is probably true. However, that is not a good enough reason to not start controlling the weeds. There are new herbicides available that are more effective than we had 50 years ago. Call us and ask. We will help.

7. “What, my renter hasn’t taken care of the weeds?”

Reality: A lot of renters are very good land stewards. However, some are not. Ultimately, it is the landowner’s responsibility to take care of the noxious weeds, even if the rental agreement requires the renter to deal with the problem.

8. “Those aren’t my weeds, they’re my neighbor’s weeds.” Or “I don’t own that parcel.”

Reality: Sometimes we make a mistake. Sometimes the Assessors information is a little out of date. However, a number of people do not seem to know their property boundaries or if they own a parcel. Sometimes, it’s an honest mistake, especially if it is a company that is buying up land and not telling their land managers.

9. “There has been too much rain. It’s too wet.”

Reality: A little rain must fall, especially in the spring. Plan ahead. Watch the weather. Take the appropriate steps to be sure that you can treat the weeds in a timely manner to stop them from going to seed.

10. “In order to do a good job on weed control I bought a tractor, sprayer and dump cart. I want to submit the receipts for re-imbursement through the cost-share program.”

Reality: Um, NO. The cost-share programs are for helping to off-set the cost of herbicide and commercial labor if you hire a company to do the work. Commercial Applicators are licensed and governed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

11. “I’m not going to treat my weeds until (Weld County, CDOT or a city) takes care of theirs.”

Reality: Not a good excuse. Everyone needs to work together for us to control or eradicate the noxious weeds. If there are noxious weeds in any of the above right-of-ways near your property, the noxious weeds will be addressed by the time we contact you on your noxious weeds.

12. “Isn’t myrtle spurge a milkweed for butterflies?”

Reality: Myrtle spurge has a milky sap. Not the same as milk weed. The sap in myrtle spurge is very caustic to skin. This species is set for mandatory eradication at both the state and county level.

13. “Don’t birds eat thistle seed?”

Reality: Most birds will eat Niger thistle seed. This is not a noxious weed. Canada, musk, Scotch, plumeless and bull thistle are all non-native, introduced noxious weed species. The painted lady butterfly will defoliate Canada thistle. However, it does not pass through Weld County in large enough numbers to be helpful more than once a decade, if we are lucky.

14. “In my garden salt cedar is ok.” Or “It’s not marshy, I don’t know how the salt cedar could be getting 200 gallons of water a day.”

Reality: Salt cedar is set for mandatory eradication in Weld County regardless if it is in your garden, pasture, or near a water source. The root system is extensive and has the potential to find water when other plants can not. It has been known to dry up “prairie potholes” if it get’s started near them.