Can anyone identify whatever this weed/plant might be in my bark please?

[WildFlowerBees]

Bought some lovely bark laid it in weed free borders now a week later I have these growing. I don’t think it’s bindweed but I am wondering if I need to take up the bark now. Can anyone identify what it might be? Thank you

It looks quite like a sunflower seedling. Possibly from bird feed.

If anyone can identify that from the seed leaves they need a job on gardeners world. There are literally hundreds of things it could be I’m afraid.

You’ll always get weeds growing in bark, you don’t need to take it up but it’s not a way of keeping weeds at bay particularly, they’ll still pop up and need tidying up.

If it’s not bindweed that’s ok, took ages to weed that sodding border and I prefer more natural methods of gardening. Plus it looks lovely in my border but not lovely if I have to keep weeding it.

Maybe rake over the bark a few times (aka "hoeing") to kill the seedings in the sun as the germinate.

What you’re looking at are not true leaves . The first pair are known as ‘leaflets’ I think and they are different. You have to wait until the next pair to emerge for identification. Or if you don’t want anything to grow in the border pull it out now.

I feel your pain! I spent ages clearing my rockery this year and am getting hundreds of tiny little seedlinngs like that. They’re floating about in the air, settling in your bark and germinating, but at least they’re really easy to pull out.
Bindweed emerges as pointy heart shaped leaves and grows (fast!) in long straggly vines. Once you’ve had it you’ll be able to spot it easily!
I’ve got several very established patches in my garden unfortunately, so I’m currently going out every day pinching it off as it appears. It really is a perisher but now I’m working only part time I do have the time to do it, and I really don’t want to use weed killer if I can help it.

As others have said, just rake the surface of your bark. No need to take it up.

The roots will be in the bark rather than the soil so it's easy to weed.

Thanks so much, I won’t tell dh who been out picking it all up to move it to the front garden 😬

It looks like a sycamore seedling to me.