are highly reproductive ; they produce thousands of seeds per plant . The seeds are small and weightless enough to be blown by the wind over short distances and can sometimes survive for decades in the soil . You can ’ t change the characteristics that make a weed a weed . But understanding those characteristics can help you get the upper hand in your own lawn or garden . Whether you decide to pull , hoe , and mulch or treat problem weeds with an herbicide , it ’ s completely your choice before these ‘ virtue less ’ get established .