Having a bank account is a 21st century necessity. The bank, whether online or “brick and mortar”, holds monetary resources in reserve for future use.
Some of the resources are expended within the year, and others are held in reserve for use at some indeterminate point in the future. It could be a European vacation in 2025 or the replacement of a water heater in 2026.
Curiously, plants use a similar system to continue their individual species. The upper few inches of soil are considered the seed-bank region.
Literally thousands of seeds lay dormant in a cubic foot of topsoil waiting for the environment to become right for germination. When the light, moisture, temperature and soil depth are correct, sprouting will begin.
Chamberbitter seeds are one of many weeds which can hide in local soil. If allowed to mature, it will produce many seeds that will end up in the local soil bank for decades to come.
Some of the seeds patiently wait in the dark recesses of north Florida’s expansive acreage for years, even decades. There are even a few examples of seeds which have remained viable for over 1,000 years. Careless disturbing of the soil could provide the needed conditions for growth.
There is an annual expiration date, required by state law, for seeds purchased from retailers. With proper storage some of these hybrids and heirloom seeds will germinate after the last day stated on the package, but the percentage of sprouts will quickly become fewer with the passage of time.
The wild seeds are produced in such volume they always have viable candidates ready to grow, usually to the complete mystification of the homeowner. The usual exasperated question is, “How in the world did that get here.”
Another risk is moving soil from site to site. As with disturbing the soil, the new-to-the-site soil can contain some unwanted surprises.
Seeds, roots, and rhizomes can all be contained in soils moved from site to site. As they are applied to gardens or levelled in a new yard, a percentage of unwanted transplant tissue will be exposed to ideal growing conditions and aggressively sprout.
This is especially true with exotic invasive plant species. Their control, but usually not eradication, can be time consuming and economically expensive.
Some notable examples on this list of weed infamy include cogongrass, chamberbitter, blackberry and purple nutsedge. All can be found in the area and are easily moved to the next new conquest territory.
Several practices will help minimize the potential for a weed invasion when introducing soil into the home landscape. The purchase of sterilized bagged soils (topsoil, potting soil, cow manure, etc.) should alleviate the prospects of a weed’s surprise appearance. Also, as tempting as broken bag specials can be, they may deliver more than a low price.
Whether a bag or bulk product, monitor closely for unwanted species. Most weeds are easier to control if they are treated shortly after they emerge from the soil.
If undesirable species do sprout in the garden or lawn, treat with the appropriate protocol. Consider pulling if just a few, and if the numbers are large use the correct herbicide.
Managing cultivated areas during the growing season will improve the chances of minimizing unwanted interlopers draining the bank account. Afterall, that exotic vacation awaits and the water heater will ultimately break.
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