{"id":16771,"date":"2025-08-13T10:25:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T17:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/?post_type=book&p=16771"},"modified":"2025-08-13T10:33:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T17:33:28","slug":"weeds-of-the-pacific-northwest","status":"publish","type":"book","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/book\/weeds-of-the-pacific-northwest\/","title":{"rendered":"Weeds of the Pacific Northwest"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWeeds of the Pacific Northwest\u201d may not sound like an exciting book.\u00a0 But look closer at the sub-title: \u201c368 Unwanted Plants and How to Control Them.\u201d\u00a0 Gardeners \u2013 these are OUR weeds!\u00a0 Time to get to know them, and how to eliminate them.\u00a0 Or just live with them.<\/p>\n

Resembling an oversized field guide, photographer Mark Turner\u2019s superb pictures make identifying your culprits quite easy, especially as he provides two or three images for each species.\u00a0 Turner honed his craft by illustrating two of the standard guides to our native plants: \u201cWildflowers of the Pacific Northwest<\/a>\u201d (published in 2006 with co-author Phyllis Gustafson) and \u201cTrees and Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest<\/a>\u201d (2014 with Ellen Kuhlmann).<\/p>\n

\"\"Author Sami Gray had an important role in the third edition (2019) of \u201cGardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest<\/a>,\u201d writing in the character of original author Art Kruckeberg for new additions and in organizing the photographs.\u00a0 She bring the same skill set in writing this book, clearly aimed at the small scale gardener.<\/p>\n

This combination of talents has resulted in a book that is both an important reference work, and a fascinating look at the non-native plants that have established themselves in our region.\u00a0 A few natives that can overrun cultivated plantings are also considered.<\/p>\n

An example is Equisetum arvense<\/em>, the common horsetail.\u00a0 We learned that although this is native throughout most of the northern hemisphere, it is \u201cso ubiquitous and so aggressive\u201d these plants are \u201cwidely treated as weeds.\u201d<\/p>\n

With deep roots (to 20 feet!) it is very difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate \u2013 no surprise to gardeners dealing with this plant.\u00a0 The final advice: \u201cSmall patches may be discouraged, though probably not vanquished, by persistent pulling.\u00a0 Or you could move.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to get rid of other invaders?\u00a0 There isn\u2019t a one size fits all answer.\u00a0 In the chapter \u201cOut, Damned Weed,\u201d Gray presents the many techniques and tools available, including a thoughtful discussion on both conventional and alterative herbicides.\u00a0 The conclusion?\u00a0 \u201cPrevention is preferable to marathon weeding sessions on hands and knees.\u00a0 And if a few weeds survive, it\u2019s not the end of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on August 15, 2024<\/p>\n

Published in Garden Notes: Northwest Horticultural Society<\/em>, Fall 2024<\/p>\n

Update May 8, 2025: The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries gave a 2025 Award of Excellence in Horticulture to “Weeds of the Pacific Northwest”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cWeeds of the Pacific Northwest\u201d may not sound like an exciting book.\u00a0 But look closer at the sub-title: \u201c368 Unwanted Plants and How to Control Them.\u201d\u00a0 Gardeners \u2013 these are OUR weeds!\u00a0 Time to get to know them, and how to eliminate them.\u00a0 Or just live with them. Resembling an oversized field guide, photographer Mark Turner\u2019s superb pictures make identifying your culprits quite easy, especially as he provides two or three images for each species.\u00a0 Turner honed his craft by…<\/p>\n

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