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Weeds & Invasive Plants

All Weeds & Invasive Plants Content

Solanum ptychanthum plant profile.

Understanding Eastern Black Nightshade: A Comprehensive Guide for Gardeners

Eastern black nightshade is a resilient invasive plant that can thrive in a variety of environments. This resource explores its genus, description, optimal growing conditions, propagation, fruiting period, and methods for safe removal.

A companion planting of kale, pole beans, and marigolds in a small garden plot.

Organic Pest Control Methods

Integrated pest management is an environmentally conscious approach to managing insects, weeds and disease. By focusing on natural processes, growers use pest control methods beginning with the least toxic and amplifying the pest control needs gradually if problems persist.

A red sprayer in a green field with a cloudy sky in the background.

How to Stop Drift

The goals of applying any crop protection products include: increasing effectiveness, mitigating drift, and maximizing profits. We will focus on mitigating drift, even though all three interact with each other.

Two scans of older SDSU Extension publications from 1949 and 1959.

Revisiting Old Lessons in Corn Weed Management: 2,4-D and dicamba

What can past herbicide programs teach us about managing against herbicide-resistant weeds in corn today?

Group of farmers strategizing near a field at sunset.

Now is Time to Plan Your Weed Management Strategy for the 2025 Growing Season

As harvest season comes to an end, now is the time to start formulating your weed management plan for next year. Learn some expert tips for getting your operation off to a good start next growing season.

A farmer observing a field at sunset.

Now is the Time to Plan for Noxious Weed Control in 2025

Since most of South Dakota has experienced several frosts, the opportunities for fall herbicide applications are likely over. Now is the time to plan for noxious weed management for both spring and fall tactics.

Producer with tablet observing a field in late autumn.

Now Is the Time To Make Your Weed Management Plan for the 2024 Growing Season

As harvest season comes to an end, now is the time to start formulating your weed management plan for next year. Learn some expert tips for getting your operation off to a good start next growing season.

Two pictures, both a picture of a green plant in a green pot in front of a orange/brown, brick wall. The left picture has a healthy, tall green leafy spurge plant and the right picture has an unhealthy, short green leafy spurge plant.

Evidence That 2,4-D Alone May Not Effectively Manage Leafy Spurge

The SDSU Extension Weed Science Project is currently conducting a potted plant study looking at various herbicide treatments to manage leafy spurge.

Soybean field with abundant grass and weeds between rows.

Cheap and Simple Soybean Herbicide Programs Do Not Pencil Out

While simple, one-herbicide programs are initially easy on the budget, it is important to consider indirect costs of surviving resistant weeds that reduce soybean yield and produce seed that will have to be managed later.

Two dandelions side by side. The left has a bee foraging on it. The right has a hover fly foraging on it..

Why Those Dandelions in Your Yard Aren’t So Bad

While research has shown that pollinators, specifically honey bees, can’t survive on dandelion pollen alone, this doesn’t mean that the dandelions aren’t still important for pollinators.