Other seeds can attach to the fur of animals, thus hitching a ride to new locations. But in order to control them, weeds must first be correctly identified. Field scouting allows for identification and recording of all weed species found. Severity of infestation also needs to be determined by noting the number of weeds per row and their height relative to crops. Some other less-utilized methods include controlled burning and crop competition.
Mechanical control can involve several different methods.
Burial, by which all growing plants are buried under the soil surface, is most effective on annual weeds. It is less effective on perennial weeds, which have underground root systems and are capable of regrowth. However, care should be taken because deep cultivation can damage crop roots. Deep cultivation may also pull more weed seeds to the soil surface where they will germinate. Crop rotation is yet another method.