A Weeding Guide for 61 Franklin St Garden

 
 

WHY WEED?

  • Save Resources: Weeds compete with our crops for water, nutrients, light, and space

  • Reduce Pests & Disease: Many weeds camouflage pests or harbor fungi and mildew

  • Prevent Spread: Some weeds produce thousands of seeds—pulling early saves work later

  • Enjoy the Process: Weeding can be a calming, grounding garden task

WHAT ARE WEEDS

  • “Weeds” are just plants growing where we don’t want them

  • Some are invasive, aggressive, or harmful to veggies and natives

  • Not all weeds are bad! Some (like clover or dandelions) can improve soil health if managed carefully

  • The key is context: a plant may be welcome in one spot and problematic in another.

IS THIS A WEED?

Not all surprise plants are weeds! Before pulling, ask:

  • Is it growing where or how it shouldn’t?

  • Is it growing outside a garden bed, under the picnic table or benches?

  • Is it crowding out crops or spreading fast?

  • Does it match known weed ID photos?

STILL NOT SURE?

  • Try a plant ID app like Seek by iNaturalist, PictureThis, or PlantNet.

  • If you’re still unsure… leave it for now and ask another gardener!

How to Weed (Smartly)

  • Identify your weed. (Use the next images for help!)

  • Choose your tools. Gloves, hand cultivator, hoe—whatever calls to you from the garden shed.

  • Pull from the base. Aim to remove both root and shoot for a clean pull.

  • Dispose responsibly. Toss pulled weeds into the trash not the compost to avoid reseeding them into our garden beds.

  • Wash your hands thoroughly. Soil is full of microbes—some good, some not-so-good.

  • Come back later. New weeds will appear. The cycle continues, and so does your connection to this place

  • Think of weeding as a little-and-often habit.