How do I determine if the plants in my garden are weeds?

Question

Is there an online picture gallery of weeds so that I can look at the plant in my garden and compare it with the pictures? I think I know what some weeds look like, but I don't want to pull a good plant accidentally. Yes, I forgot what I planted in my garden.

Answer 1

That happens to a lot of us!

Go to this link and you will find several website to check out:

http://www.google.com/search?q=flower+photos&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7

You can also send for free gardening catalogs:

http://www.parkseed.com

http://www.burpee.com

Answer 2

If they grow really well, are very healthy, and require absolutely no care, they're probably weeds.

Most weeds will either be the grass blade type or broadleaf. When they come up, they are generally extremely small (very thin blades or very small initial leaves). Plants that are planted from seed usually come up with a longer, thicker stalk. And, the initial pair of leaves is usually bigger (at least a half inch in diameter). Also, sprawling weeds will come up and form leaves right on the surface of the soil.

The best thing to do is let the sprouts grow and see what they form. I have a whole planter full of volunteer plants that formed a bed of leafy green vines with little blue flowers, because I started watering it. I think someone planted them way back when. Now they cascade out of the planter and they're really cool.

But, when I see shoots that I think are weeds (like I described above), I let them get about 3 inches high and then pull the ones that look like weeds.

Answer 3

I know this probably isn't the answer you're looking for, but this is how I look at it. If you like a plant, it's not a weed. Example, I have a ton of wild violets in my yard. I love them! Most people would say they are weeds and pluck them. I have Queen Anne's Lace that has come up on its' own and a vine that is related to Morning Glory, not Bindweed but something similar. Several Honeysuckle vines, too. I love all of them and let them grow to their heart's content. I guess what I'm driving at is that you just might discover a plant that others might call a weed is something that you , personally , enjoy.
There have been times when I've had something sprout up that I don't recognize. I'll let it grow for a bit and if it isn't to my liking, I pluck it. I've learned to recognize several weeds that way.

Answer 4

A weed is an undesirable plant that usually does not incorporate wood. If it has usefulness in a particular region - no remember if for its elegance, financial fee, or merely because of the fact it incredibly is "something" growing to be the place no longer something usually could - then it probable does no longer be a "weed". yet you're good, there is are destructive attributes to the be conscious, "weed"...regrettably. we could be killing something indescriminately devoid of understanding a greater useful fee for it, in spite of each little thing. a various responder reported dandelions. it incredibly is my be attentive to-how that the pilgrims further over dandelion seeds to entice honeybees to their settlement. So, if so dandylions served a utilitarian objective and does on no account be observed as a weed, in spite of if on the instant it incredibly is. Likewise, I considered the morning glory an exquisite plant till it began to overrun our fence and the neighbor began to ***** approximately it. Now, mutually as I nonetheless think of the flower is gorgeous, it incredibly is fairly gotten out of control. So, yea, if the destructive attributes surpass the beneficial characteristics of a plant - i could think of, too, that prejudice (a discovered reaction), and your judgment of a plant's usefulness does verify what a "weed" is.

Answer 5

Hello
I let my plants or weeds grow until I'm for sure they are weeds once that has happen and if they are weeds I pull them up not until I learn them.
I have pull up a lot of flower before thinking they were weeds.
I have learn not to do that anymore.
It's the easies way for me.
Hope this helps.
Gail

Answer 6

First pull every thing you know to be a weed. Next call your County Agent, they should be able to put you in touch with someone like me, a Master Gardener to help identify the rest. RScott

Answer 7

Here is one resource: The Source for Information and Images of Invasive & Exotic Species - http://www.invasive.org/

Answer 8

If they take over the other plants, and start spreading all over the place.

Answer 9

use your own judgment.if you like them they are flowers if you don`t they are weeds.--a weed is only a flower growing in the wrong place.

Answer 10

CUT IT BACK, IF IT GROWS BACK ITS A WEED