Some of the most troublesome weeds in our neighborhood are designated as noxious or invasive in NM because they deprive the beneficial native grasses and plants of precious water and pose a higher wildfire risk by creating ladder fuels. The seeds are often imported through contaminated hay and straw, poor quality compost, or carried by wind or on hooves and paws of animals. Our weeds can be kept in check harmlessly by:

• Hand-weeding. If you don’t enjoy solitude in nature while getting in shape, make a weed date with friends, and  follow it with refreshments and socializing.

• Hiring a hardy soul to pull them.

• For large swaths up to an acre or more, consider hiring a herd of goats for just $600 a day.  https://www.facebook.com/HornedLocustRemediation/

Please do not apply herbicides. Besides poisoning our soil, air and water, this allows resistant super weeds to evolve, exacerbating the problem. Weed-whacking or mowing once the seeds have formed only propagates more weeds.

Here are some common weeds in our neighborhood:

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)

This shallow-rooted grass can outcompete our native grasses like blue gramma, which grows deeper roots (up to several feet) and thus holds more carbon, diverse microorganisms and moisture in the soil. Because cheatgrass is an annual and dries out quickly, it ignites easily and carries wildfire more rapidly. Wildfire leaves nitrogen in the soil, which cheatgrass is better adapted to than native grasses, thus creating a vicious cycle.

Tumbleweeds (Salsola tragus), also known as Russian Thistle

They often sprout in disturbed areas and create ferocious kindling for wildfire once they dry out, break off, and blow underneath trees or up against structures.

Stork’s bill (Erodium cicutarium) also known as pin weed or redstem filaree

This pretty flowered plant sprouts in winter months and early spring. Besides competing with native plants for space, water and nutrients, its sweet-scented, shallow taproot releases phytotoxins that allow it to outcompete beneficial native plants. Each plant explosively disperses 2,000 – 10,000 self-burial seeds, but pulling them early with a forked weed puller can give grasses like blue grama and sideoats grama a leg up.

Goathead Weed (Tribulus Terrestris), also known as devil’s-thorn, bull’s head (toritos in Spanish) and other names

Low-growing, spreading weed with fernlike leaves and an extensive root system. Flowers have 5 petals. Seed pods have 5 segments, each with 2 spines that are sharp enough to penetrate shoes, bike tires, and paws. Tolerates hot, compacted soils.

Stickweed (Lappula Redowskii)

Though this is a native plant with pretty little white or lavender flowers, it is a nuisance because the flowers dry out and become little Velcro seeds that stick to socks, shoes, paws and fur. They also dry out and combust easily in the event of wildfire.

Kochia (Kochia scoparia L.)

This drought-tolerant weed grows in disturbed areas and is poisonous to livestock. It can be deadly if consumed in large quantities. It also hosts and harmful insects. In many agricultural areas, it has evolved into superweed status, meaning that blasting it with herbicides only serves to make it more resistant and troublesome. The best way to get rid of kochia is to seed native grasses and other hardy dryland plants that will outcompete it.

Plants of the Southwest is an excellent local resource for native plants: https://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/

For further information on local weeds, New Mexico State University has published a handy little guide entitled Noxious and Troublesome Weeds of New Mexico by Leslie Beck and James Wanstall (2021) that may be available at the Santa Fe County Extension Service at the rodeo grounds.

Here is the online version: https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_circulars/CR698/