Why Weeds are Important

Weeds! I love them, it's my business. But why are weeds important? Here I share five great reasons to celebrate weeds and debunk some myths about these humble plants. Perhaps it will help you to see these plants in a new light and value their contribution to your garden too.

What is a weed?

I can't help myself, when visiting a formal garden I'm looking at the weeds. Yes, those plants growing in-between the planted, cultivated ones. After all, they are the ones that are most successful, naturally growing and thriving.

Firstly, let us look at the definition of a weed. Described as ' a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants'. Being called a weed is also considered an insult. I was called weedy at school, with long, skinny limbs, I wasn't seen as strong or valuable in a world where being and looking strong were important. Let us dig deeper into the value of weeds.

1. Weeds protect your soil

Once upon a time a new fashion started; to have bare soil around your 'planted' plants. Apparently it looks neater, 'better' and enables people to see what you've planted more easily. But this wasn't always the way.

Ground cover has been traditionally valued for protecting the soil, helping keep moisture in so you don't need to water your plants as much. Many weeds provide natural ground cover and also ensures a biodiversity in your soil, rather than depletion from a monoculture of one type of plant. Biodiversity helps bring or maintain nutrients in your soil. Hence protecting it.

2. Weeds bring colour and diversity

Many wildflowers are also called weeds. Think about it: a weed is a plant in the wrong place. Yet if you change the way you see them then weeds disappear and become wildflowers! Colour and diversity bring joy to a garden and also stimulate the senses, countering boredom and allow creativity to flourish more easily. Colour and diversity also bring a rich diet to pollinators who are essential in the cycle of food and life.

3. Weeds lessen the work

Weeds can do your work for you! They fertilise the soil without adding artificial fertiliser, they reduce watering, bring colour and can reduce mowing. Did you know that a dandelion lawn used to be a sought after sight in Victorian times, partly because they reduced the need to mow? Nature naturally does what gardeners do, but more effectively.

4. Weeds provide 'free' food

Many weeds are actually edible, providing valuable nutrients in a time when are diets often lack the diversity we need. For example, stinging nettles contain; iron, vitamin C, K and A and many more vitamins and minerals. Eating weeds can be satisfying and surprisingly tasty compared to mono-cropped supermarket foods. This free food is also a supply for the wider community of foragers; insects, birds, mammals and micro-organisms. Weeds really do feed the world!

Above: Dandelion Petal Cake and Nettle and Ginger Ice Cream.

5. Weeds celebrate abundance

In a world often framed by fear and scarcity, weeds are the perfect anecdote! They freely offer themselves on bare ground, grow easily and can be harvested as food! Edible weeds are the best: providing food at a time when we're told that there isn't enough food in the world. Weeds teach us to see the world as abundant.