Hitchhiking Weeds
It's nearly fall planting time in the Northeast – a time when gardeners seek out container plants to fill in holes in perennial beds or plant trees, shrubs, and new beds. But a recent study, reported by the Weed Science Society of America, suggests we need to be cautious of what could be hitching a ride with any container plants we buy. The study, done in Alaska, examined container-grown vegetables, herbs, perennials, and woody trees and shrubs purchased from 29 nurseries supplying Alaska gardeners and landscapers. Over a two-year period, 54 weeds or invasive plants were incubated from the soils in the purchased containers. Of the 54 weeds, only 3 were native to Alaska.


