Weedless holidays

Facing weedlessness this winter? Did you ever think about how winter and Christmas traditions are affected by weeds? Me neither. And no, not that kind of weed. I’m talking about the weeds that farmers and gardeners fight during a good portion of the growing season.
The material below, from the Weed Science Society of America, puts a new perspective on weed control. Now that Halloween is over, the Americans are focusing on their Thanksgiving celebrations which, so far as I can tell, lead straight into Christmas in one extremely long holiday extravaganza, with attendant advertising overkill. But I digress.

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The point of the Society’s material is that weeds, or rather their absence, help make holiday traditions merry and bright. Weed science is not typically seen as sexy, unless you work for an agriculture chemical company or you’re married to a weed scientist. And even that’s not guaranteed.
So the weed society has tailored its message to hit folks right where they live. Though some of the traditions noted are American in scope, it is still an interesting take on weed control. As the Society’s science director, Lee Van Wychen, puts it, “weed control may not sound like an issue close to home and hearth but it touches many aspects of our lives.
“A lot of behind-the-scenes effort is exerted by growers, land managers and other dedicated professionals to keep weeds at bay. The steps they take help us preserve many of our most treasured foods and fun.”
Here is the material from the Weed Science Society of America.

Christmas trees. A fragrant pine or fir tree is often the centerpiece of a holiday gathering. Successful weed control helps growers produce better-looking Christmas trees and far more of them. Weeds can shade out young trees, causing their bases to deform and inhibiting the growth of those lovely lateral branches that hold twinkling lights and our favourite ornaments.
Wrapping paper and cards. Those beautiful holiday cards and the festive wrapping paper you use to decorate gifts for family and friends owe their existence to effective weed control. That’s because companies producing paper products rely on a healthy crop of trees. Weeds left uncontrolled in commercial forests can crowd out the new seedlings planted to replace each year’s harvest.

Football. As you cheer for your favourite football team during holiday bowl games, remember success on the field starts at the ground level. A healthy stand of grass cushions falls and provides safe footing. As the turf thins from heavy use, weeds can crowd out the cushioning blades of grass. Turf management specialists use effective weed control techniques to keep the invaders “out of bounds.”
Holiday turkeys. Effective weed control also impacts the succulent birds gracing many a holiday table. Uncontrolled weeds on poultry farms interfere with ventilation in the houses where birds are raised, which can result in health problems. Dried weeds can endanger both birds and breeders by becoming a fire hazard, even on a free range farm.
Holiday hams. Farmers producing pork are especially sensitive to weed control issues. Several weed species are poisonous to pigs, including common cocklebur, jimsonweed and other invasive plants commonly found in pastures.
Sweet potatoes and pumpkins. Whether you prefer tasty sweet potatoes or pumpkin as a side dish or baked into a pie, say a special thanks to growers. To produce a bumper crop for holiday meals, both traditional and organic farmers focus on fighting back weeds that can crowd out crops. They use targeted synthetic or organic herbicides, tillage and hand weeding to ensure the best yield and quality.
Green beans, sweet peas and more. Equally vigilant weed control efforts are behind the beans and peas found on many holiday menus. Both annual and perennial weeds can be problems in all vegetable crops. Weeds compete for space, moisture and nutrients and can harbor insect and disease pests.
Cranberries. Colourful, perennial cranberries present a major weed control challenge. Their low, woody vines form a continuous, lawn-like swath across a bed or bog, making it impossible to till weeds without damaging the crop. Vigilant growers scout beds repeatedly through the growing season to spot problems and control them – pulling weeds by hand, suppressing them with sand, using selective herbicides and/or mowing the surrounding area to keep weeds from spreading.
Electricity. A happy holiday season depends on energy for lights, heating systems, ovens, TV sets and a host of other appliances. Behind the scenes, power companies emphasize effective weed control so workers can maintain and repair vital lines. Unchecked weedy trees and brush can damage lines and obstruct access during an outage.