BBC
6 - Weeds
Close window

Weeds
The definition of a weed is ‘any plant growing in the wrong place’. This means anything from a tiny hairy bittercress seedling to a huge sycamore tree. It also covers some of the more invasive ‘garden’ plants, such as snow-in-summer, Cerastium tomentosum, which will take over a rock garden if not controlled.
Weeds are ill-mannered thugs. They compete with more sedate, well-mannered plants for water, light and nutrients. There are two basic weed types, annual and perennial, each with its own plan of attack.
Weedkiller gameBrush up on annual and perennial weeds and refresh your reflexes, with the weedkiller game.

Annual weeds

Purple dead nettleFat henOpium poppyHairy bittercress
Perennial weeds

DandelionCreeping thistleBindweedGround elder


Previous
next
6. Problem solving

Introduction
Pests and diseases
Weeds
 Annual weeds
 Perennial weeds
 The tools for the job
 Preventing weeds
Test your knowledge
Go further

Highlights
Plant listsPlant lists
View plant lists on:

Find thousands more plants in the BBC Gardening database.
InteractiveInteractive
Can you spot a weed? Refresh your reflexes, with the weedkiller game.
Requires Flash 5
InteractiveInteractive
Find out how to control problems in your garden with the pest paparazzi game.
Requires Flash 5
Useful links


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