Taking over my wifes garden

[sean fleck]

No idea what these are..please help!!

 

[Beth_B]

Welcome! Where do you live, or what is your USDA zone?

I'm guessing mint/catnip (catnip is in the mint family) of some sort - crush a leaf between your fingers and smell it. Cool plants but given the right conditions they can spread rather aggressively. I grow both regular mint and catnip on purpose but it appears in all sorts of odd places every spring.

 

[CanadianLori]

Welcome and thank you for sharing a real pic for your avatar!

love it.

now I will stand aside for the experts!

 

[sean fleck]

Welcome! Where do you live, or what is your USDA zone?

I'm guessing mint/catnip (catnip is in the mint family) of some sort - crush a leaf between your fingers and smell it. Cool plants but given the right conditions they can spread rather aggressively. I grow both regular mint and catnip on purpose but it appears in all sorts of odd places every spring.

 

[sean fleck]

Northern Illinois, central time zone...
I'll check the plants right now..lol

 

[sean fleck]

Well, no mint smell.... in fact, no noticeable smell at all...is there any benefit to keeping a few plants growing?

 

[Beth_B]

Well, no mint smell.... in fact, no noticeable smell at all...is there any benefit to keeping a few plants growing?

I guess it depends on whether you think the plant is attractive and how intrusive it is. Looks to me about to flower and since I'm the type to encourage wild or volunteer plants to do their thing if they may attract pollinators I'd personally let it go to flower, then snip it down when it is no longer pretty.
But if it's strangling out plants that are important to you, I'd try to eradicate it. If it's not, I'd leave it be. It sort of boils down to your personal gardening ethos ;how you deal with unscheduled plants.

 

[Kaitlin Renee]

I was going to guess the first picture was mint leaves too, I've got some in my garden. I agree with Beth, if they seem to get in the way of other plants, I'd try to cut off some or just rid of it. But, if they are keeping to themselves, just leave them there. This might be able to help you narrow them down --- http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/different-leaf-types-in-plants.htm

 

[Silver surfer]

Welcome to the forums.
Possibly Amaranth?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=w...&sa=X&ei=twqNVee4GIKAU9uVgNgD&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ

 

[Beth_B]

Welcome to the forums.
Possibly Amaranth?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=w...&sa=X&ei=twqNVee4GIKAU9uVgNgD&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ

Possible but I don't think that would be invasive in northern Illinois, which is mostly zone 5.

 

[Silver surfer]

Possible but I don't think that would be invasive in northern Illinois, which is mostly zone 5.

Seems that it is...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=i...=ssl#q=amaranth+invasive+in+northern+Illinois,

 

[Beth_B]

@Silver surfer, I stand corrected!

 

[Pat]

Welcome to the group, enjoy your garden.