LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – They’re a gardener’s “arch nemesis,” and the battle against them never seems to end. “Weeds”—a term that can be surprisingly subjective—were the focus of Allen County Master Gardeners’ latest Brown Bag Lunch and Learn event.
Many gardeners define a weed as any plant growing where it’s not wanted. But what one person sees as a nuisance, another may consider beneficial ground cover. Take milkweed, for example. While some view it as undesirable, others value it for supporting pollinators like monarch butterflies.
The session focused on how to identify and manage weeds in the garden. Some, such as chickweed, creeping charlie, and cudweed, are common culprits. When removing them, it’s important to pull out the entire root system to prevent regrowth. Weeding can be a personal decision and something you should think about as you lay out your garden.
“As you plant your—I would say flowers or vegetable crops or whatever you're planning—you generally know where those plants are,” said Garth McDorman, Allen County OSU Extension Officer. “And then when you see other plants come about, those are generally the plants that you don't want there. And you can quickly learn, like a lot of people here, they're going to tell me, ‘I don't know the name of the weed, but I know it's a weed.’ Exactly. We know it's a weed because it's growing somewhere we don't want it, and we have to take care of it.”
The next Brown Bag Lunch and Learn will focus on cut flowers and vegetable farming. The public is encouraged to attend. It begins at 12:15 p.m. next Tuesday, July 15 in the gazebo at the Children’s Garden.
