Which process is primarily concerned with limiting the growth or spread of weeds?

The process focused on limiting the growth or spread of weeds is weed suppression. This strategy aims to reduce the competitive ability of weeds in a landscape or agricultural setting, allowing desirable plants to thrive without completely eradicating the weed population. Suppression can involve cultural practices, mulching, and the selective use of herbicides. It focuses on managing weed populations to minimize their impact rather than completely removing them from the environment.

Weed eradication, in contrast, seeks to completely eliminate weeds from a specific area, which can be impractical and unsustainable in many situations. Weed encouragement is not a recognized process in weed management; it would imply promoting weed growth, which contradicts the goal of maintaining healthy turf and ornamental landscapes. Weed elimination suggests an absolute removal of all weeds, which again may not always be feasible or environmentally friendly. Therefore, weed suppression is the most effective approach for long-term weed management in various settings.