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An Honest Take

From the person who built this — and what you should know

Let's address the elephant in the room

Yes, we know what you thought when you saw the name. No, this is not that kind of weed identification tool. This is for the stuff growing in your lawn that you didn't plant and can't identify. The double meaning is just free marketing.


Why build this?

Because "is this a weed or did I plant that?" is a real question every homeowner asks. You're out in the yard, staring at something green, and you genuinely have no idea if you should pull it or water it. Your neighbor confidently tells you it's crabgrass. Your spouse says it's a flower. Google Image Search gives you 400 possibilities. You just want a straight answer.


How accurate is it?

Common lawn weeds like dandelions, crabgrass, and clover? Nails it every time. These are the weeds that 90% of homeowners are actually dealing with. White clover in the lawn, dollar weed in the flower beds, nutsedge poking through the mulch — AI recognizes these instantly because they're extremely well-documented.

Rare regional plants or very young seedlings? Less reliable. A 2-day-old sprout looks like... a 2-day-old sprout. Even master gardeners struggle with those. And if you're in a unique microclimate with rare native plants, the AI might not know them.


What about the herbicide recommendations?

We give herbicide recommendations but PLEASE read the label. This is not a joke. Using a broadleaf herbicide on St. Augustine grass will kill the grass. Spraying non-selective herbicide (like glyphosate) near your garden will kill everything it touches. Pre-emergent herbicide will prevent your grass seed from germinating if you're trying to overseed. The AI gives you a starting point, but the product label is the law.


What's the best advice you can give?

When in doubt: pull it by hand and Google it later. Seriously. Manual removal works on everything, damages nothing, and gives you time to figure out what you're dealing with before spraying chemicals. The best lawn care is a thick, healthy lawn mowed at the right height — weeds can't compete with dense turf.

The best use of WeedOrNOT is scanning a plant, confirming it's crabgrass, and knowing to apply pre-emergent next spring before it comes back. The worst use is scanning a plant, seeing a herbicide recommendation, and spraying your entire lawn without reading the label. Please be the first person.

When in doubt: pull it by hand.

— The Creator of WeedOrNOT