Weeds: Friend or Foe? A Gardener's Perspective

(Editor's Note: Originally published February 25, 2008. Comments welcome, but authors of older articles may not respond promptly.)

Weeds. Basically, plants growing where you don't want them. This is subjective. My friend in New Zealand complained about weeds in her garden—nasturtiums, of all things. Ironic, since I'd just ordered nasturtium seeds for my garden. One person's weed is another's treasure. My neighbor considers catnip a weed; I let it grow because I have six cats. Even lawn grass becomes an unwelcome weed when it invades flower beds. My mom and I argue about milkweed—I like it; she yanks it on sight. I won last summer when I showed her monarch caterpillars on my protected patch—now she wants some in her garden. Thank you, monarchs!

Controlling Weeds

Weed control is difficult at best. Every region has native plants spreading by seeds, roots, berries, etc. Most weeds are native wild plants or accidentally introduced species with the nerve to grow in our tended gardens. Birds, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, wind—all spread them. And the neighbor who never mows doesn't help.

Your best bet: pull weeds before they get a head start. Remember: "One year's seed gives seven years' weeds." If time is short, this is tough. When pulling individually, get the entire root system. I keep a garden trowel by the back door—it's a permanent extension of my arm in summer.

For large weedy patches (like a new, dug-but-unplanted bed), my best method: turn them over with a shovel. Bury them. If energetic, pick them up while helpless, shake off soil, and mulch—but not necessary. Complete burial (no green showing) mulches them naturally. This is also how I edge beds: turn over a few inches along the edge with a shovel. Keeps encroaching lawn at bay.

A dog helps. When I got my dog Sandi, weeding became easier. Every time she needed to go out (many times daily), I'd walk her along a different flower bed section. She'd sniff and do her business; I'd enjoy the flowers and pull weeds.

Many mulches help—to a point. Eventually weeds grow, usually when you're not looking. A friend spent heavily on red mulch, applied 6 inches deep. Looked great initially, but by summer's end resembled the hayfield out back.

Identifying Weeds

Weed identification is another challenge. Many websites exist (quick Google search). It depends on your region. Some list feverfew and foxglove as nasty weeds—for me, these are highly sought-after. Get to know your native plants. Knowing your garden's annuals and perennials helps. When I see something I didn't plant that looks nothing like its neighbors, I suspect weed. Then I mentally run through known weeds: clover, alfalfa, nettle, burdock, dandelion, etc. If I can't ID it as a weed, I let it grow until it flowers, then decide—weed or keeper? Birds have brought nice surprises: mullein, cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). Weeds aren't always bad. Daisies and brown-eyed Susans are "weeds" I allow—they grow fast, bloom profusely, and fill between perennials.

It takes only a few minutes daily to stay ahead. The more you weed, the fewer you'll have. By mid-summer, I hunt hard to find a weed. Don't view weeding as a nasty chore—you'll avoid it. See weeds as potential treasure. Morning coffee stroll. Walk the dog instead of just opening the door.

Thanks to my friend Slant in New Zealand, who gladly shared some of her weeds...