Weed:  A plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden.

No plant is a weed. There is no list of weeds that is standardized. You have to discover what plants you would like growing in your garden and those that you wish to keep out. The ones you do not like are your gardens personal weeds.

Chemical ‘weed killers’ are in fact plant killers. Spraying these products onto most plants will kill them they are not weed only killers.

Once you have a idea of what plants you want kept out of your borders and pots the you can start to control them. You need to stop them choking and invading you chosen plants areas.

Some weeds do have their uses however, they can add to the bio-diversity of the garden, some and great ‘green manures’ and some act as pest deterrent and repellents (nettles attract aphids away from your other plants). Some weeds improve soil condition and some attract helpful insects into the garden.

With weeds, if you call them wild flowers, they become desirable, but as weeds they are despised nation wide.

You need to control weeds to prevent them from colonising areas where they are not wanted, but you never need to use herbicides. If you cultivate your soil well and manage it correctly you can prevent the majority of weeds taking over your garden. using organic mulch around established plants can help prevent weeds choking them. 

It is almost impossible to completely get rid of weeds as they have evolved complex ways of spreading and staying tough. Cultivation is key, make sure you dig your soil thoroughly and weed it before planting new plants. This is especially key in the vegetable patch. Use a fork to dig to minimise breaking up weed root structures.

You will have to be persistent to gain full control of your garden if it is left for long periods of time but once you are on top of things it can be very rewarding.

Good Luck