AN INTRODUCTION TO HORTSENSE WEEDS

What is a weed?
A weed is simply a plant that is growing where it is not wanted. This does not mean that the plant is a weed in all situations. Some weeds were originally introduced as ornamentals which have now become established in an area. Many plants that we may consider weeds are also beneficial. Certain species can be important sources of pollen and nectar for pollinating insects (including honeybees), while others may provide food or shelter to various species of insect predators, parasitoids, and other beneficial species. Conversely, some weeds may also serve as hosts of diseases and pests which affect desired plants, potentially increasing the number or severity of problems in our yards and gardens.

Noxious weeds.
Certain weeds may be, for various reasons, designated as "noxious," and special management efforts may be required. For more information on noxious weeds in your area, and what you should do to manage them on your property, contact your county's Noxious Weed Control Board.

HortSense Weeds.
The weeds described in HortSense are addressed briefly. Listed species include some of the common weeds of yards and gardens (and some plants of general interest) in the state of Washington. This information is not intended to be used as the sole means of weed identification, nor does the list contain all the plants which may be problem weeds. Many weed species are more fully discussed in various Cooperative Extension publications, including the PNW Weed Series produced by the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho Cooperative Extension Services.

Would you like to ...
Learn Integrated Pest Managment for weed control

Go to the Glossary for weed identification terms

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