Hello All,

I'm new to gardening as I just bought my first house in Middle of October. It seems the garden is doing well (minus a blue berry bush, and roses planted outside the garden area)

But, to be honest I have no idea what's a weed and not...and haven't been using any chemicals as I wanted my first attempt to be chemical free (lots of weed pulling so next year probably will use some killer).

Anyways, this big plant or weed with picture attached is one I have the most questions about. It's very hardy at the base, about 7 feet tall I'd guess, and as you can see no leafs at the top.

Is this a plant the previous owners had that came back or a weed?

I don't know what it is exactly, probably a wildflower of some type. But if it was in my garden, I would pull it out. I don't see much in the way of a value in keeping it around.

"A weed is a flower that grows where you do not want it."

It looks like some kind of wild mustard. In my mind, yes a "pull it up" plant.

Thank you all. I'll probably pull it then just because it's taking room from my squash, which are growing like crazy, next year probably only 1 or 2 plants.

Funny enough as I was pulling some weeds after posting this post one that I could have swore was a weed (no flowers, didnt remember planting it, was doing nothing) was a potatoe plant from a random potatoe I planted and forgot about. Haha

Thank you all. I plan to stay apart of the community and hopefully in the future be helpful and not just ask questions.

Use the site as you see fit!
But welcome to be sure!!!

I am like that too OP, wanted to help others after being helped here. Welcome to the forum!

Update:

So I got busy, and lazy, and wanted to go to the pool on days it wasnt raining and kept the plant or weed or whatever it is.

I decided I'll keep it til years end just because it is attracting tons of bees and other pollinators. At first I was afraid it was taking attention away from my other plants but after about 3 minutes I saw some bees on my squash and cucumber flowers.

I'll probably replant it where this, what looks like dead, thing by my tree outside of the garden for next year (if it lives). Definitely love seeing all the bees.

Its an annual but if you let it go to seed you will have plenty of them next year.

DaisyI said:Its an annual but if you let it go to seed you will have plenty of them next year.

Yikes. Definitely dont want more than one and would get rid of this one but the bees love it and I'm a fan of bees lol.

What does going to seed mean? Like when the flowers turn to white, like daffodils? If so I'll pull it then.

I just love bees too much haha. They left me alone the entire last few days I messed around in the garden.

Going to seed means producing mature seed.
You have one now because somehow a single seed was carried to your yard and produced that plant. By letting it go to seed, that plant itself could be responsible for 20, 30, 50 or more of them next year. Their numbers can explode exponentially!!

Just pick the spent blooms and no seeds will form. The bees will be done with them by then.

Yes,as Porkpal says, after flowers come seeds. Cut it back before the seeds disperse.

porkpal said:Just pick the spent blooms and no seeds will form. The bees will be done with them by then.

So is this a plant/weed worth replanting or should I just kill it once I see it trying to reseed?

Thing thing is like 7 feet tall so its alot of effort to replant if it's just a weed most let die.

I definitely dont want it spreading in my yard as the old owners spend alot of money keeping it weed free.

It depends upon how you feel about wild mustard. Personally I would have pulled it up on June 26.

The way I see it, even though one really likes a plant it is ok to remove it if it is invasive (it is with reseeding). Apologize to it and remove it. And don't lose sleep over it.

If it is bees you want to attract, use perennials that attract bees. A couple that I have are Blue Haze Euphorbia and Sedum Autumn Joy (Hylotelephium spectabile 'Herbstfreude'). Both of these are covered with bees when they are in bloom. They have never reseeded and they just keep coming back year after year.

Thanks all.

I pulled it tonight when the bees were asleep and wow, it was tough to get up. I got the entire plant out and most roots but 1 large root (good dime/nickel size) I just couldnt get without digging into other plants so hopefully it's ok. Made sure to collect all flowers and covered up the area with dirt.

Trying to get them up litterally bent my gardening tool. probably should have used a shovel but you learn as you go, i guess.

Thanks everyone. Next year I'm definitely going to do better. Was hard this year as I'm new and I didnt know what they had growing... o

Gardens are to learn from and enjoy. Perfection would be boring. Just have fun!