Annual weeds The aim of annual weeds is to grow and set seed as quickly as possible. They grow from seed on any recently cultivated soil. Seeds can survive for years in the soil, waiting for the perfect conditions to grow. They germinate at lower temperatures than most garden plants, giving them a head start over rivals! Controlling annual weeds is relatively easy: The trick is to recognise them at the seedling stage, so you can get on top of them without accidentally eliminating flower or vegetable seedlings. Most hoe or pull out easily even when they reach a good size. Put them on your compost heap, so long as they don’t have seed-heads. Brush up on annual and perennial weeds and refresh your reflexes, with the weedkiller game. Here is a line-up of the usual suspects: Introduction Pests and diseases Weeds  Annual weeds  Perennial weeds  The tools for the job  Preventing weeds Test your knowledge Go further View plant lists on: Plants less susceptible to slugs and snails Plants less susceptible to honey fungus Disease resistant roses Find thousands more plants in the BBC Gardening database. Can you spot a weed? Refresh your reflexes, with the weedkiller game. Requires Flash 5 Find out how to control problems in your garden with the pest paparazzi game. Requires Flash 5 Create a virtual garden Techniques in the garden Plant profiles Design projects Plant database

About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy