Make Sure You Know One Thing Before You Start Getting Rid Of Weeds

Weeding can be frustrating or therapeutic, depending on what mood you're in. One thing that's sure to make weeding an upsetting task, though, is realizing you've accidentally pulled out all your newly planted seedlings after mistaking them for weeds. To avoid this disaster, hold off on removing any plants until you're confident that they're unwanted weeds. Becoming familiar with the most common weeds in your area and labeling what you've planted in different parts of the garden are excellent strategies for telling weeds apart from beneficial plants. Some apps and websites can also help you identify young plants in your garden so you don't mistake them for weeds. 

While a weed is just a plant growing in a place it isn't wanted, some weeds are more problematic than others. Reading up on the more common aggressive and invasive weeds in your area should enable you to spot problem plants quickly and remove them from your garden before they cause trouble. For plants you can't immediately identify, take a wait-and-see approach and regularly check them for identifiable features.

Whether you've transplanted young seedlings into a garden space or directly sown seeds in the garden, creating labels or writing down plant locations makes it easier to tell your seedlings apart from undesirable plants. Most seedlings look different from their mature form, especially early on. However, if you know what plants should be growing in a specific part of the garden, it becomes easier to find what they look like as seedlings. This way, you're less likely to pull your garden plants just because you didn't recognize them.

Another possible way to avoid destroying desirable species is by identifying the plants with Google Lens. The app is not foolproof, especially when used on seedlings that still lack the adult plant's distinguishing features. However, this handy app can still help you identify plants as they mature. If all else fails, be patient and keep an eye on the plant to see what it grows into. You can always remove a plant if you decide it's a weed, but it isn't so easy to plant it anew it if it's pulled by mistake.