What's wrong with weeds? Why do some people spend so much time and money eliminating these stubborn plants? Weeds remove valuable nutrients from the soil and absorb water, essentially stealing from your perennials, grass and trees. If you want the healthiest lawn and garden possible taking the time to remove weeds simply makes sense.

Identifying Weeds

Not every plant found growing uncontrollably in your yard can be defined as a weed, but many of these tough-to-banish plants cause trouble far beyond their worth. Dandelions, crab grass and clover are infamous for covering an otherwise lush lawn. Thistle, milkweed and nettle can quickly fill your flower beds, strangling your favorite plants.

Remember that weeds often have a sharp odor and tend to grow quickly when compared to other, less obnoxious plants. Picking weeds as they sprout helps to clear up your yard more efficiently, although it may be necessary to let the weed grow for accurate identification.

Get Thee Out!

Unless you want to sacrifice your turf and give up your garden you'll need to invest some time and money into weeding. Removing weeds does help cut down on other expenses, such as excess fertilizer and watering. Weeds tend to rob food and water from your flowers, trees and grass, causing you to overcompensate when feeding and watering.

Weeding also provides a more attractive facade for your home, and improves property value. A well maintained garden may not be completely void of weeds, but in beautifully landscaped yards these pesky plants are kept under control.

Hire Out

Talk to your landscaping professional about scheduling a regular visit to remove weeds. This type of arrangement delivers the most bang for your buck, since your landscaper can weed more efficiently with regular visits, keeping all types of weeds under control throughout the season.

Let your lawn and garden put their best face forward by weeding on a regular basis. Identify and remove out of control plants to maintain an attractive and healthy landscape all summer long.