Weeds Crowding Seedlings
When seedlings are bunched together with weeds, they often fail to thrive. Roots get tangled, and fragile stems can be crushed under weed pressure. It’s especially tough on shallow-rooted plants like spinach or basil.
I always leave room around my seedlings—about 2–3 inches—so I can spot any parasitic vines or creeping groundcovers before they strangle my young plants. A quick tug early on prevents disastrous competition down the line!