By Ethan Proud
PREVIEW Columnist
The Colorado Noxious Weed List contains upward of 70 plants, but luckily, only 22-23 occur in Archuleta County.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep an eye out for new invaders. Some species, such as common crupina, aren’t even present in Colorado yet, but have had a profound effect in nearby states and warrant concern. Currently, common crupina has been reported in Idaho which boasts a similar habitat to Colorado.
Common crupina is in the aster family and subjectively appears similar to a knapweed. Its leaves have toothed margins and it had multiple terminal flowers per stem. The flowers are purple and each plant can produce up to 130 seeds. Common crupina can invade roadsides, rangeland, pastures, riparian areas and other disturbed sites.
New invaders are much easier to control than established species and can often be eradicated if detected in time. For this reason, it is much more important to be aware of the weeds that aren’t on your property than those that are. A weed on your neighbor’s property only needs a few seasons to become a weed on your property. The good news is that if you are diligent and maintain your property boundaries, you can effectively prevent new invaders from gaining a foothold. If you think you have spotted common crupina, please notify the Weed and Pest Department and take photos.
Archuleta County Weed and Pest is your local resource for managing noxious weed populations and controlling other pests.
Upcoming events
April 24 — Earth Day Celebration at the Riverwalk. Come see the Master Gardeners, the 4-H alpaca project, Archuleta County Weed and Pest, and more.
June 12 — Archuleta County Annual Weed Tour.
Visit online
Visit us on the Web at https://archuleta.extension.colostate.edu/ or Like us on Facebook and get more information: https://www.facebook.com/CSUARCHCTY.
CPR and first aid classes
CPR and first aid certification classes are offered monthly by the Colorado State University Extension office, generally on the second Monday and Wednesday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. Call the Extension office at 246-5931 to register.
