Wicked Weeds of the Northwest
Here’s how to ID—and eliminate—5 nasty plants that cover a lot of ground.
There’s an old garden adage: 1 year of seeds equals 7 years of weeds. Sometimes described as anything growing in the wrong place, in fact, weeds are a group of plants that have developed amazing reproductive capabilities and tough constitutions that allow them to survive where other more “civilized” plants cannot. In this way, weeds play a valuable environmental role in covering bare ground and preventing erosion. But as another saying goes: NIMBY.
In the garden, weeds crowd desirable plants, competing for water and nutrients. Keeping the ground covered, whether with mulch, groundcovers, or spreading plants, is the best defense against weeds gaining ground in the first place. Nevertheless, when weeds do show up (and they will) eliminate them as quickly as possible before they have a chance to spread.
Digging the plants is the most effective; there’s even a term for it—weeding! Weeding is never more satisfying than in soft spring soil that’s easy to dig. But first you must learn to identify and assess your target. Here are some common spring weeds to watch for.
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