"Weeds"

[Answerprancer]

This term really needles me. Most of what I believe are referred to as "weeds" are meadow plants that are *supposed* to be here.
Rosebay willow herb, dandelion, clover, daisies, doc, nettles, wild lettuce, shepherd's purse, yarrow, ragwort, sorrel ... I could go on.
Sure there are the ones that can choke and spread like wild fire (convolvulus, Japanese knotweed etc) but it's not rocket science to keep these under control IMO.
Within reason, I believe a reasonable amount of "weeds" should be welcomed into our gardens, for one thing many of them have valuable medicinal and even food values.
Does anyone else share my feelings on this ?

[albaqwerty]

They are plants which grow in the wrong place.
There's one which has a leaf like the buttercup, ground-something (it's too early) which is a swine.

[Answerprancer]

"In the wrong place". This totally sums up my hatred of the term.
What "wrong" place ? Your "wrong" place ? ie your perfectly manicured astroturfed stripey-lawned artificial Stepford paradise.
It's like some herbal utopian form of ethnic cleansing and I hate it.
..so there ;-)

[albaqwerty]

Nope, not my wrong place. Plants can grow where they like. They know what sort of soil etc they like better than I.
I like buttercups. I don't consider them weeds.

[Answerprancer]

Ah, so you're a *discerning* indigenous plant fascist ! Good aryan buttercups are allowed but it's off to the gas chambers for the unnamed "ground-something" variety !

[albaqwerty]

LOL, it's the ones who don't discern what plant they strangle which disappoint me.

(Nice to see you posting again btw)

[Answerprancer]

:-) x

[follyfancier]

I am with you on this Answerprancer, I leave everything where it grows because the bees like the flowers and I have a lot of birds who like the seeds
the neighbours grumble about the dandelions but I think they look fantastic mixed in with english bluebells

[rowanwitch]

When I had a gearden I compromised... weeding near the house except for pretties and useful 'weeds' so I had coltsfoot and buttercups by the wildlife pond, foxgloves and yarrow in the borders, wild violets in the paving and daisies, clover and the creeping self heal in the lawn At the back of the garden there was nettles, willow herb, sorrel, chick weed, dandelions, groundsel, and loads more as well as bracken, blackthorn and ragged robin... they had to battle with things like golden rod, michaelmas daisies and wild roses as well as the brambles I trained around the fences, I also planted teasels, poppies, and other wildflowers in the borders as well as having loads of 'tree ivy' with its late flowers and berries. I liked the idea of working with nature while keeping some control over the areas near the house. we had loads of birds, butterflies, bees, and amphibians dragon flies and damsel flies in the wildlife pond and lots of frogs in the main fish pond I miss it.

[nannybooby]

Answerprancer ,yes I admit I like my small (very small) garden to be "weed free" and neat (old habits die hard) but we have insect and bird frendly plants in it. Also by our parking space we have an equally small patch that we have sown with wild flower seeds -God knows what they are but they are very attractive and the insects and bees love them. I could only name about half a dozen that grow in there. The neighbors think that they are wonderful too.

[tamborine]

Cant stand the insipid lemon iris that throws red seeds & invades the borders. This year I intend to pull seed pods for cremation!

[rowanwitch]

cut them and dry them spray with clear varnish they look nice in a vase

[tamborine]

But I bought Flags expecting purple blooms. My best weeds are poppies.

[Frank97]

A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.

I don't have a problem with a few weeds, as long as they aren't in the lawn.

[Ann]

Some weeds are very pretty - prettier than some garden flowers in fact ..... but I do have a serious problem with ground elder, it swamps everything in my borders, so I have to pull it up when it gets to the level of the border flowers, its a real nuisance as I can't dig the underground roots up as its completely full of perennials and shrubs. If I left it to its own devices does anyone know how tall it would grow? and does it flower like elderflower hedges?

[rowanwitch]

no stays quite low and isn't an elder really best thing is to clear an entire border moving the plants to temp homes treat the ground elder and replant once the soil is clear... its that hard to get rid of

[woofgang]

I agre with Rowan, move what you want to keep, making sure you don't move any bits of ground elder root with it, then blitz the empty space with glyphosate, wait about a month, do it again and repeat until nothing grows, then replant. And lets not start on Himalayan balsam.....

[Old_Geezer]

I agree with many here, that in general a weed is just a plant growing where I don't want it. But at the same time it is true that many species are near universally undesired and so have evolved good defenses and an ability to come back when you have done everything in your power to get rid of them. They are the 'true' weeds.

I have many 'true' weeds in my garden but those who have pretty blooms are merely controlled.