A note on weeds

A Note on Weeds

Nowadays many gardeners define weeds as a plant that is in the wrong place, or at least not where we want it to be in our cultivated gardens.

Given that we are in a biodiversity crisis, we need to rethink our relationship with weeds and start to think of them as natural parts of our gardens, rather than enemies that need to be destroyed.

The only reason you should be removing weeds is if they are in direct competition with your crops.

Annual and Perennial Weeds

Annual weeds have shallow root systems so they can be removed quite easily with a hoe or by hand. Perennial weeds on the other hand have much deeper and tougher root systems, which can make them harder to remove.

While it can be painstaking work, removing perennial root systems by hand is often the only way to get rid of them organically. Once they are out, put them in your household waste, not on your compost heap, otherwise, you will end up spreading them around your garden when you use your compost, as many can grow back from just a small section of root.