Why do weeds grow better and faster then plants that people actually want to grow?

Question

Why do weeds grow better and faster then plants that people actually want to grow?

Answer 1

Most of the things we call weeds have a ruderal grow strategy.  Ruderal means they grow fast and have a short life cycle (they put all their resources into rapid growth and reproduction instead of long term stable growth).

The things most likely to grow in sidewalk cracks, an old dirt pile, or a bare spot on the lawn have this ruderal growth strategy.  It's not so much that weeds grow better, its just that we call things that grow fast "weeds".  

Answer 2

The answer goes back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Their disobedience brought forth the problem for all mankind.

17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Answer 3

weeds adapt to their surroundings better than a lot of plants. You can watch centipede grass start dying while bahalia thrives.

A lot of people grow plants that aren't really suited to the climate they are in becuase they look nice.

Answer 4

Weeds steal water and nutrients