They can out compete all their neighbors if there is regular water and applications of fertilizer. Reproduction is their key weapon. They are the first to flower and the first to seed. They proliferate if the soil has been altered in some way that disrupts the natural community. They will go to seed and die quickly when conditions do not go their way.
Weeds can lead to the collapse of a stable native area.
Soil amendments, fertilizer, and water fosters their growth. These plants should be grouped and planted where water and continuous maintenance is available. The closer you get to matching the plant to its native habitat, the better the plant will survive. Copyright 1998, Maryanne Lucas. All rights reserved.