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5 WEEDS YOU WANT IN YOUR GARDEN

by Amy 34 Comments

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Weeds canoverwhelm even the most patient gardener. Some weeds, however, actually increasethe productivity
of agarden if youknow how to harness their power.Here are the top 5 weeds youll want to find in your garden.

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THE BENEFITS OF WEEDS

Recently,I wrote about the benefits of weeds. (See: When Weeds are Good.)I used to be so frustrated by weeds
until I learned about their benefits. Im a much happier gardener now that my perception has changed!

Here are some of the things weeds do for us:

1: WEEDS PROTECT SOIL.

Weeds are fast growing, so they can quickly cover bare ground to protect it. Their roots hold soil together and
keep it from eroding away in the wind or rain. Their presence can indicate the need for mulch to protect soil.
(See: Mulching in the Garden.)

2: WEEDS FERTILIZE SOIL.

Many weeds accumulate vital nutrients from the subsoil and bring the nutrients into their leaves. As the weed
leaves die back, they makea healing medicine (fertilizer) for damaged topsoil. Their presence can indicate the
need toenrich your soil with amendments such as worm castings or compost, because each timeyouharvest
vegetables, youextract nutrients from the soil.

Read more about making your own worm castings and building a compost bin.

3: WEEDS CONDITION SOIL.

Decayingrootsespecially deep taprootsadd organic matter to the soil, provide channelsfor rain and air to
penetrate, and create tunnels for worms and other beneficial soil microbes. They help improve the no-till garden.
(See: Transitioning to a No-Till Garden.)

4: WEEDS ATTRACT BENEFICIAL INSECTS.

Weeds are usuallyquick to sprout, but relatively short-lived. For this reason, they flower frequently in order to set
seed for the next generation. The flowering and their dense foliage can attract beneficial insects looking for
habitat or nectar.
 dandelion greens are a nutritious superfood

HOW I CHOSE THE FOLLOWING TOP 5 WEEDS

It was a challengeto narrow this list down to just 5 beneficial weeds, because as you can see, weeds do quite a
few things for us that can help reduce our maintenance time in the garden.

I focused on the most common weeds (at least, in my area) that fill two important roles:

They accumulate nutrients.Thiswill reduce the amount of time and money I need to dedicate to
fertilizer. And if I do decide to fertilize with store-bought products, the presence of these weeds may
indicate what nutrients my soil is lacking.
They attract benecial insects. This will reduce the amount of time and money Imust dedicate to
battling pests.

By fertilizing and reducing pest populations, these weeds will increase the productivity of my gardens, its simply
a matter ofknowing how toharness their power.

All of these weeds also have medicinal properties and are nutritious edibles. Many of them would make excellent
healing oils or herbal salves. Ive indicatedmedicinal properties below.

TOP 5 WEEDS

5. BROADLEAF PLANTAIN (PLANTAGO MAJOR)

Brought into North America by colonists, plantain o en pops up where soil iscompacted.
 Nutrient Accumulator: Plantain accumulatescalcium, sulfur, magnesium, manganese, iron, and silicon.
Plantain has edible and medicinal properties.

HOW TO USE PLANTAIN IN THE GARDEN:

Plantain will benefit the soil if le to grow and die back on its own. For a tidier garden, cut the leaves back
monthly and tuck them under the mulch, or lay them on top of the soil to naturally decompose. Leave the roots
intactthe plant will either regrow, or the roots will decay, enriching the soil and attracting beneficial soil
organisms.

broadleaf plantain

Photo by F.D. Richards viaFlickr

4. CHICKWEED (STELLARIA MEDIA)

Chickweed shows up in disturbed soil such as garden beds and highly tilled areas, indicating low fertility.

Nutrient Accumulator: Chickweed accumulates potassium and phosphorus.

Beneficial Insects: Chickweed attracts pollinators searching for nectar in the spring and early summer.
Chickweed has edible, lettuce-like greens and medicinal properties

HOW TO USE CHICKWEED IN THE GARDEN:

Chickweedwill benefit the soil if le to grow and die back on its own. For a tidier garden, cut the plants back
monthly and tuck them under the mulch, or lay them on top of the soil to naturally decompose. Leave the roots
intactthe plant will either regrow, or the roots will decay, enriching the soil and attracting beneficial soil
organisms. Note: Cutting it back will reduce its availability to pollinators.
 common chickweed

Photo by Simon via Flickr

3. LAMBS QUARTERS (CHENOPODIUM ALBUM)

Thepresence of lambs quarters is common in old farm fields,where chemical fertilizers were used in excess.
Over time, these weeds will improve the soil quality.

Nutrient Accumulator: Lambs quarters deep roots accumulate nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
calcium, and manganese while loosening the soil.
Highly nutritious edible properties when found growing in safe environments. The leaves go for a high
price to local chefs.

HOW TO USE LAMBS QUARTERS IN THE GARDEN:

Lambs quarterswill benefit the soil if le to grow and die back on their own, but one plant can set over 75,000
seeds. For a tidier garden, cut the plants back monthly and tuck them under the mulch, or lay them on top of the
soil to naturally decompose.Leave the roots intactthe plant will either regrow, or the roots will decay, enriching
the soil and attracting beneficial soil organisms.
 lambsquarters

Photo by Wendell Smith via Flickr

2. WHITE CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM REPENS)

White clover voluntarily shows up in nitrogen-lacking, dry fields and lawns that cover hardpan clay soil. Lawns
where grass clippings are routinely carted away over time become lacking in nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer: Nitrogen is necessary for plant growth. It is present in the atmosphere, yet it must be
converted into a useable form in the soil before it can be used by plants. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live on
the roots of clover and change the atmospheric nitrogen into a form that is useful to both themselves and
other plants.
Nutrient Accumulator: Clover accumulates phosphorus.
Beneficial insects: Clover attracts ladybugs, minute pirate bugs, and pollinators looking for nectar.
Itprovides shelter for parasitoid wasps, spiders, and ground beetles.Clover is a preferred egg-laying site
for lacewings.
White clover has edible flowers.

HOW TO USE WHITE CLOVER IN THE GARDEN:

Permanent Ground Cover:

White clover is used as a permanent ground cover in orchard areas, where it keeps the soil and shallow fruit tree
roots covered, attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, and provides a consistent source of nitrogen. In the
vegetable garden, white clover is o en used inpathways,fertilizing nearby garden soil.

Here are the seeds I purchase for seeding in garden paths.

When white clover shows up as a volunteer in my vegetable garden beds, I allow it to remain in the spaces
between plants. Since it voluntarily shows up in areas that are low in nitrogen, I trust that it is needed there.
Prune it away from individual plants so that it doesnt smother them.

White Clover

Photo by Hideyuki KAMON via Flickr

1. DANDELION (TARAXACUM OFFICINALE)

Dandelion is one of the most common and arguably the most beneficial of all weeds. It o en shows up in hard-
pan clay soils, whether in gardens, old fields, or lawns.

Nutrient Accumulator: Dandelions deep roots accumulate potassium, phosphorus, calcium, copper, iron,
magnesium, and silicon while loosening the soil.
Beneficial insects: Dandelion attracts ladybugs and pollinators looking for nectar. It also attracts
parasitoid wasps and lacewings.
Dandelion has edible leaves, roots, and flowers with highly medicinal properties.

HOW TO USE DANDELION IN THE GARDEN:

Dandelionwill benefit the soil if le to grow and die back on its own, though one flower seed head can set over
100 seeds. For a tidier garden, cut the leaves back monthly and tuck them under the mulch, or lay them on top of
the soil to naturally decompose. Leave the roots intactthe plant will either regrow, or the roots will decay,
enriching the soil and attracting beneficial soil organisms. Note: Cutting them back will reduce their availability
to beneficial insects.
 dandelion

Photo by Toshiyuki IMAI via Flickr

BEYOND THE FIVE

Weeds are natures way of healing itself. If you have a persistent weed that isnt listed here, resourcessuch as
Gaias Gardenor Edible Forest Gardensmay be able to instruct you on their benefits.

Consider the root structure of the weed in question: Are they shallow roots and grow thickly on the ground?
Perhaps their role is to hold the soil in placeto prevent wind and water erosion.Mulching might help to reduce
their presence.

Do the weeds havedeep taproots? Perhaps their role is to loosen and enrich soil.Adding organic matter and
using a digging fork to loosen soil might help.

Some weedslike poison ivyarea nuisance, and arebetter eradicated from garden areas.

Do you see these 5 weeds in your garden?Has this changed your perception of them?

This post was shared in the Backyard Farming Connection Hop, the Homestead Barn Hop,Wildcra ing
Wednesdays, Simple Lives Thursday, and the HomeAcre Hop.

RELATED POSTS:

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Tagged With: Attracting Beneficial Insects, Growing and Using Herbs, Health and Wellness, Mulching, Permaculture

COMMENTS
Jon says
August 25, 2014 at 6:29 am

I used to be pretty obsessive about weeds in the lawn but my wife has always reminded me of the quote
that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place Nowadays the approach is more benign neglect; clover,
daises, dandelions and plantains can be found in my lawn along with self heal (Prunella vulgaris).

With this come an increase in insect life, bees and butterflies. Nowadays when I look at the perfect lawn I
just think boring.

REPLY

Amy says
August 25, 2014 at 10:14 am

You hit the nail on the head natural diversity is much more exciting than immaculate lawn

REPLY

Patrick (heliotropicmoth) says

August 25, 2014 at 9:30 am

I have all of those in abundance in my yard. People think I am crazy to collect dandelion seed and actually
seed my yard with them. I also encourage creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea) in my yard. It is a great
ground cover with medicinal and edible uses. Great post.

REPLY

Amy says
August 25, 2014 at 10:16 am

Thanks for mentioning the creeping charlie. I let it roam where it wants to in the lawn, but I do try to keep it
out of the garden beds. I would love to know more about its medicinal and edible uses!

REPLY

Deidre says
April 12, 2015 at 7:26 am

Hah, when on walks with my kids Ive been encouraging them to save the wish flowers they find to blow in
the yard when we get home.

REPLY

Amy says
April 13, 2015 at 10:58 am

Thats a good way to do it

REPLY
 Sydney says
May 28, 2015 at 10:45 am

I have found the creeping Charlie needs no encouragement!

REPLY

Amy says
May 28, 2015 at 3:20 pm

True story.

REPLY

Nate says
August 25, 2014 at 2:53 pm

I enjoyed reading your article. I, too, have white clover growing in my vegetable beds, but unlike you, I have
never let it grow in the spaces between plants. I usually rip the leaves o and throw them down as mulch,
and patiently wait for it to grow back to provide me with more mulch.

Im going to try letting it grow in the spaces next time. I was worried about nutrient leeching from my
vegetables, but your article has me wondering if my fears are irrational.

REPLY

Amy says
August 25, 2014 at 5:08 pm

I think your method would work well, too. It would be interesting to do an experiment with one bed letting the
clover grow and in another bed chopping and dropping the clover leaves as mulch, to see which provides a
better yield. (mental note for next years garden!)

REPLY

Beth says
August 25, 2014 at 5:04 pm

We walked at Otto Armledder Park today and found all five of your beneficial weeds!!! Ive used chickweed,
plantain and dandelion in salads. What about lambs quarter? Edible?

This article is a stress reliever! Especially in this heat wave its nice to know the weeds are doing their thing
and I dont have to be out pulling them. Thanks, Amy.

REPLY

Jacquelyn @ LittleOwlCrunchyMomma says

September 19, 2014 at 5:43 pm

This is great. Ive slowly been unlearning my view of weeds that came from growing up in a RoundUp happy
suburb. I now think dandelions are delicious. Never would have seen myself saying that ten years
ago!
REPLY

Amy says
September 20, 2014 at 8:49 am

Same for me! I was definitely not taught this view growing up!

REPLY

Green Bean says

November 13, 2014 at 12:05 am

What useful information! Sharing.

REPLY

Angi @ SchneiderPeeps says

December 2, 2014 at 3:01 pm

Your pictures for identifying the weeds are really good. Other than the dandilion, I had no clue what they
looked like. And that is my issue with weeds, I really need to get good at identifying them so I can use them.
Im putting those books on my Christmas list. Thanks for sharing with us at Simple Lives Thursday; hope to
see you again this week.

REPLY

Amy says
December 2, 2014 at 6:06 pm

Hi Angi! Im glad this post was useful for you. Thanks for hosting Simple Lives Thursday

REPLY

Julia @ Simplicity for Julia says

December 30, 2014 at 12:58 pm

I love this post from beginning to end. I have a deep appreciation for weeds, my favorite being dandelion.
(and I have benefited from Plantain, too!)

REPLY

Tom says
March 29, 2015 at 8:06 am

I havent seen lambs orders yet will be looking for them. One thing you forgot is that weeds make great
chicken fodder, my girls good about half the weeds the garden is the rest. 1 question our mind games and
poke salad the sign? One question are plantain and poke salad the same thing?

REPLY

Amy says
 March 30, 2015 at 9:40 am

Plantain and pokeweed are two di erent plants. Plantain grows low to the ground, while poke can grow to 6
feet and produce purple berries (poisonous to humans).

REPLY

tom says
April 13, 2015 at 5:30 am

Thanks for the help. I guess I have poke salad but either way the chickens love it. The hard part is keeping them
satisfied and providing a good mulch layer. Now to find a way to get rid of Bermuda grass. Ive thought about a
small thermonuclear blast but decided against it; probably just infuriate the cockroaches.

REPLY

Kathy B says
July 6, 2016 at 10:22 am

Plantain is one plant my chickens ignore. It grows in their foraging area un

disturbed.

REPLY

Allen carter says

July 9, 2016 at 10:03 pm

The poison in Polk is the cure for cancer. I take about 20 of them every year with water & just swollen them. ( do
not chew them ) they are horrible tasting. It is very high in Nitrogen which your body requires a small amount.
The roots is very high in nitrogen , considered toxic. So be careful with it.

REPLY

Abigail @ They're Not Our Goats says

April 3, 2015 at 1:13 pm

Yes! I love this post! We always let the wood sorrel and purslane grow in patches in our garden as well. But
several of these grow all over the yard! I always get upset when people kill dandelions and plantain how
useful they are! Sharing this post.

REPLY

Yossi says
June 3, 2015 at 2:38 am

Does anybody have advice on how to deal with ground elder which spreads by rhizomes and is very
persistent?

REPLY

Amy says
 June 3, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Uggh. I call it snow-in-the-mountain and I have it in a section of my front yard planted by the previous
owners. The only way I know to get rid of it is to smother it by sheet mulching: Cover it with cardboard topped
with 6-12 inches of wood chips or soil.

REPLY

Margaret says
August 24, 2015 at 6:57 pm

Oh how I wish I had these weeds in my garden! I know that sounds crazy to wish for weeds, but I do share
your thoughts of them! I have tried to purposely plant White Clover and it doesnt seem to be coming up,
unfortunately. I have an immense amount of weeds, Ive never seen so many as this year. I know I have
Purslane which is edible, however, one could founder on the amount I have, and it seems to suck up all the
water away from my plants. Not an admirable quality in this dry region of MT. There are several other weeds
I have, but I still dont know what they all are. Thanks for this post, it is a good reminder that not ALL weeds
are bad. Im curious to look up my other weeds now and see if I really need to be spending hours upon
hours pulling them. How do you deal with weeds becoming competitive? For space, sunlight, water,
nutrients?

REPLY

Amy says
August 25, 2015 at 10:18 am

How do I deal with weeds becoming competitive? Great question. I let weeds grow in the spaces between
plants and rows, but I carve out a ring around each desired plant so that it has some breathing room and
access to sunlight, etc. It ultimately depends on how nicely the particular crop and weed play together. If a
crop plant seems like it is struggling, I will (as I mentioned above) cut back the weeds entirely and mulch with
them, but let their root systems stay. The last resortif the crop isnt doing wellis pulling all the weeds out.
Since that is the most labor-intensive step, I save it for last. Usually I dont need to pull them all entirely.

I just found this class on edible weeds in Livingston, MT. It already passed, but it demonstrates some of the
useful weeds found in your state, and what you can do with them

REPLY

Patty says
November 29, 2015 at 8:55 am

Amy, on Creeping Charlie, I was unfamiliar w/the name but not the plantlooked it up on Wikipedia and
there is a bit of explanation of its medicinal and culinary uses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glechoma_hederacea

We seem to have four of your top five. Missing is lambs quarters.

REPLY

Amy says
December 7, 2015 at 4:21 pm
 It looks like thatas with most medicinecreeping Charlie should be taken in small doses and for short
periods of time, rather than as a dietary staple. Good find!

REPLY

Campbell says
January 31, 2016 at 2:58 pm

Im an advocate of purslane to add to the list! Packed with all sorts of goodness for your body and a great
indicator of soil which need amending. Im toying with planting as ground cover around the veggies..that or
white clovermaybe a combo.
Anyone have thoughts on that?

REPLY

Amy says
February 2, 2016 at 11:16 am

Purslane is another great one! Thanks for the reminder!

I think purslane would be a good ground cover in the veggie gardenedible, too! I would probably save white
clover for pathways in the vegetable garden since it tends to be perennial and might smother plants.

Now I have to add purslane to my garden design

REPLY

jessica says
March 15, 2016 at 2:48 pm

I have been fighting clover in my flower garden year a er year. And the weeds. With a half acre you can
imagine. I began weeding this morning, and I thought that when I do weed if I dont mulch heavily the
ground dries out fast, but I also didnt want to weed as it lasts from now until September, even with
mulching. I also grew up loving weeds. A er reading this article and another, I am going to see what will
happen this spring and summer if I just pull out the tall weeds and let the ground covers go, but also just
pull clover out of my low lying plants. Last year I let the wild strawberries grow, and nothing bad happens;
instead my plants came up through them, and the back yard didnt need much weeding, and it kept in the
moisture. Last year I also gave up and let the dollar weed grow. I planted it one year, and when it took over I
got it all out. Well, I love it, so a friend gave me more, who cares what it does? chickweed is okay too now.
But I am not a fan of dandelions. Maybe I can change my view on them and just cut o the flowers. Let the
plantain grow too. But I am still thinking about that clover.

REPLY

Amy says
March 15, 2016 at 8:32 pm

I love that you have an open mind about the weeds! Lots of time spent weeding will eventually make you
question whether or not it is necessary LOL. I do like a tidy garden, so I figure spending one day a month
cutting the weeds back was easier than the constant weeding and seeking of perfection. Sounds like you have
come to a similar conclusion. Good luck with your weed experiments! I hope youll let me know what worked
for you
 REPLY

ClaudeA says
June 17, 2016 at 7:58 pm

Jessica, kudos on the weeds you let grow! Go look up the healing properties of dandelion infused oil, the rich
nutrient content, its wonderful tasting wine, dried rood healing properties. and the high nutrient and energy
the fresh flowers have! I love to stu a few handfuls into my mouth and chew the flowers into a fine, semi-
sweet juice I swallow on hikes. The energy boost from a few in phenomenal!

Do you know all clovers absorb nitrogen in the air and store it in their roots, where other pant roots can feed
on it, too? Clover is also one of farmers best between crops ground cover they grow then plow in for its many
nutrients! Now, if you want really to maximize the nutrients of weeds, let them develop to maturity and
harvest as compost material. Mix with 1/3 grass clippings and I add some brush to allow air to pass though
the pile so it needs no turning, and you have awesome new soil for your garden every year!

REPLY

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