Volunteer Plants: Managing Self-Sown Seedlings in Your Garden

Volunteer plants appear unplanted—from dropped seeds, animal fur, bird droppings, or rhizomes. Some are welcome gifts; others are weeds. Early identification is tricky but improves with experience.

Managing Volunteers

• Move desired seedlings early with a teaspoon (aesthetic placement in flowers; crop rotation in veggies).
• Discourage unwanted ones: deadhead before seed set, mulch thickly, pull seedlings promptly.

Common Volunteers

Chives, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Columbine, Foxglove, California Poppy, Milkweed, Lupine, Spotted Bee Balm, Sweet William Catchfly, Sunflowers.

Embrace the surprises, but curate for a balanced garden.