A surprising number of good garden plants arrive entirely uninvited, having self-seeded from a nearby parent plant into a crack in the paving or a gap between paving stones and a border. Rather than pulling every unexpected seedling out as a weed, it is worth pausing to work out what it actually is before deciding its fate.
Self-seeded plants often turn out to be perfectly happy where they land, sometimes even more so than plants that were deliberately placed there, since they have chosen the spot themselves based on the light and moisture available. Recognising a seedling early, while it is still small, makes it far easier to lift and move than waiting until it has grown into a much larger, more established plant.
Moving a seedling successfully
The best time to move a self-sown seedling is while it is still young, with a small enough root system to lift cleanly without too much disturbance. A generous amount of surrounding soil kept around the roots during the move helps the plant settle into its new spot with minimal setback.
A little extra watering in the days following the move helps the seedling cope with the disturbance to its roots, especially if the weather turns dry shortly afterwards. Choosing an overcast day for the move, rather than a bright, sunny one, also reduces the stress on a young plant that has just had its roots disturbed.
Over time, a garden that welcomes its self-seeded volunteers, rather than treating every unplanned arrival as an unwanted weed, often ends up with a livelier, more natural mix of plants than one that is planted entirely by design. Some of the most charming corners of a garden began life as a single seedling nobody planted on purpose.
A little patience before pulling anything up is worthwhile, since an unfamiliar seedling left to grow for another few weeks usually reveals enough of its shape and leaf pattern to identify with some confidence. Comparing it with plants already growing nearby in the garden often gives a useful clue as to where the seed originally came from.
