Are Texas Tumbleweeds More Dangerous than Just a Nuisance?

Drive anywhere in west Texas for more than five minutes, and you'll witness the onslaught of tumbleweeds. Much like a tornado or your great aunt Sally, they're a marvel to see from a distance, but really cause nothing but problems the closer they get.

Unfortunately, tumbleweeds can wreak havoc on farmlands and roads in rural areas. As fun as they are to point out to out-of-towners, when it comes down to it, tumbleweeds are a nuisance and a risk.

I'll get to the dangers of tumbleweeds in a second, but first, a crash course on these annoying Texas cliches.

Tumblin' in Texas

Just like that stale piece of pizza in your fridge, tumbleweeds barely need any water to survive. Get this, there are actually many different plants that form tumbleweeds, but they all have the same traits when it comes to forming the iconic ball of weed floating in the Texas wind.

A Tumbleweed's Purpose

When a plant is ready to become a tumbleweed... they die. But that's completely normal and actually required in the life cycle. This is because the dried detached plant that we see bouncing across the road is actually covered in tiny seeds. These seeds are then dropped on the ground wherever the tumbleweed travels.

The Dangers of Tumbleweed

Besides the risk of damaging your car or scratching the paint, tumbleweeds can also negatively impact crops and Texas farms. Just take a look at these examples from Lawn Starter:

• Tumbleweed invites invasive pests like leafhoppers and stink bugs which can damage vegetable crops
• There are also fire hazards involved with tumbleweeds as they store heat quickly when bunched up
• Humans or animals with allergies to plants that become tumbleweeds can be affected if in contact with these dead balls of thistle
• Ecosystems can also be disrupted when tumbleweeds enter the picture and displace native plant species

Long story short: tumbleweeds are useless and cause nothing but hazards to those around them.