Weeds & Invasive Plants

Learn about weeds, as well as invasive and noxious weeds. Weeds are simply undesirable plants; what is a weed to one person is a desirable plant to another. We go over all of this for the most common weeds from dandelions to crabgrass, and also share weeding guidance, what works and what doesn't, shortcuts and hacks, and weeding tools.

Invasive plants are another story. An invasive plant is typically a non-native plant that lacks natural competition, so it "invades" the area. It often outcompetes native plants for resources, thus decreasing the native plants that support the complete ecosystem.

Noxious weeds or plants are the last category that we cover on Home Garden Joy. These are weeds that hurt. Think weeds with sap that creates itchy rashes, like poison ivy or oak, or poisonous weeds such as water hemlock.

A plant can be a weed, an invasive, and noxious all at once, or just in one category or another. Sometimes, a weed is invasive in one area of the country but not in another.

It takes time to learn about weeds. Start small and grow your knowledge here.