The Weeds You Shouldn't Be Killing

What Are the Dangers of Pesticides?

One of the most popular lawn herbicides is known as 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). This "weed and feed" product has recently been labeled as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." According to the Environmental Working Group, exposure to 2,4-D has also been associated with a higher risk of Parkinson's disease, immune system problems, and hypothyroidism. Similarly, the company formerly known as Monsanto (now Bayer) has also been facing thousands of Roundup weed killer cancer lawsuits.

Even though the most common lawn chemicals and weed killers are increasingly being linked with cancer and other serious health and environmental effects, homeowners keep using them. One recent market analysis found that the Turf & Ornamental Chemical Input Market expects a compound annual growth rate of 4.4 percent between 2019-2024. 

It might be surprising to many homeowners that many of the weeds that these cancer-causing "lawn care" herbicides target are full of nutritional and medicinal properties. In contrast, that carefully manicured lawn might be leading your family into a host of health problems. So, allowing the weeds to flourish could result in a self-planted immune-boosting garden that can improve your health.

What Are Some Alternatives to Lawns?

There has been a considerable movement in recent years to convince individuals and homeowners to move away from monoculture turf grass lawns and healthier landscaping alternatives. Popular alternatives to lawns include permaculture design, prairie gardens, and xeriscaping, each with its own ecological and health benefits. All of these alternatives indeed represent an opportunity to create a thriving, health-oriented, and ecologically resilient landscape around our homes. However, a simpler (and less expensive) option might also be worth consideration.

Can Weeds Benefit Us?

Simply allowing the weeds to flourish might allow the spaces around homes to become populated by native vegetation, which is unfortunately commonly referred to as weeds. Many of these native species whose seeds have either lain dormant in the soil or that have arrived on the feet of birds, insects, and the wind, contain an enormous amount of health benefits. 

Whereas cultivating tomatoes and other common garden crops might require your constant vigilance against pests and diseases, weeds are known for their rapid growth and resilience.

What Is a Plantain Weed?

The plantain weed doesn't refer to the larger banana plant grown in tropical climates but rather to one of the most abundant yard weeds around North America. You have probably seen this pervasive plant growing in an abandoned corner of your yard or even in a small crack in asphalt pavement. The plantain weed has been esteemed for hundreds of years due to its pervasive presence and unique medicinal properties.

What Are the Health Benefits of Plantain?

The plantain plant has large, oval-shaped leaves that can either be eaten raw or cooked. As with dandelions, the plantain plant can help reduce inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory compounds like flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, and tannins found in the leaves. Other studies have found that plantain leaves might also play a role in slowing cancer cells' growth and proliferation. This is another example of how simple neglect can allow homeowners to convert their lawns from a potential cancer source to a garden of plants that help fight against cancers.

The plantain leaves can also be used as a natural way to heal wounds, especially when combined with aloe vera. Both the leaves and seeds of this plant might help calm several digestive issues, including inflammatory bowel disease. As with dandelions, these common medicinal herbs are often self-dispersed by birds and the wind. If you don't find any plantain plants growing in your yard, you can find these common seeds online.

What Is Nettle?

Nettles, or stinging nettle, is a common weed found in yards across the continent. Nettles do like more fertile soil, so if you see this weed popping up in your yard, it is probably a good sign that you are taking care of your garden and lawn soil. Many homeowners despise nettles because the stems contain bristle hairs that release stinging chemicals when touched. The burning sensation from accidentally rubbing up against a stinging nettle plant is often enough to get out the lawnmower or weed whacker.