Integrated Weed Management
A holistic approach to weed management that integrates different methods of weed control to provide the best chance of success.
Preventative Control
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
- Properly manage your land by not overgrazing and by maintaining desired native/adapted species so that there is less opportunity for weeds to encroach.
- Be aware of weed seed sources
- Roadways, livestock, wildlife, wind, water, and disturbed areas
- Detect and identify early on
- Aggressively manage all infestations when they are small
Chemical Control
Use of herbicides to kill or suppress weeds.
- Usually the most effective and time-efficient method
- Different herbicides work for different weeds. READ THE LABEL...IT’S THE LAW!!!
- Often selective to NOT kill grass
Biological Control
Use of living agents to suppress vigor and reduce the spread of weeds.
- Biological agents limit the spread and density of target weed species by feeding on leaves, stems, roots and/or seed heads
- Must call Colorado Department of Agriculture Insectary to obtain the Biological Agent; NOT ALL AGENTS WORK IN ALL SITUATIONS.
- Agents available for:
- Canada Thistle
- Dalmatian Toadflax
- Diffuse Knapweed
- Field Bindweed
- Leafy Spurge
- Musk Thistle
- Russian Knapweed
- Spotted Knapweed
- Tamarisk/Salt Cedar
- Yellow Toadflax
- Depending on the weed species and class of livestock, grazing may be an effective tool. Goats tend to be the least picky about what they eat, so they may be the best option if you desire to use livestock as a weed management tool.
Mechanical Control
Killing or suppressing weeds through physical disruption.
- Pulling
- Plowing
- Digging
- Disking
- Mowing
Cultural Control
Establishment of competitive and desired vegetation (i.e. seeding with desired grasses and forbs).