Fortunately, with quick identification and the right removal methods, you can get ahead of the invaders and reclaim your lawn.

In this post, you’ll find a list of common low creeping lawn and the most effective strategies to remove them.

1. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

• Local Name: White Clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

White clover is a low growing herbaceous perennial plant that is native to Europe and Asia. You would first notice its egg-shaped, trifoliate leaves with light or dark markings before the white to pink flowers appear.

The growth of white clover in your lawn can indicate a poor nitrogen-nutrient profile. To eliminate the weed, improve lawn health through proper mowing (above 3 inches and apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer. 

You can pull out the young plants when the ground is moist or spot treat with a selective postemergent broadleaf herbicide like dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPP, and triclopyr.

2. Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)

• Local Name: Spotted Spurge or Prostrate Spurge
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Spotted spurge is an annual low growing weed native to North America. The common lawn weed spreads about 45-60 cm along the ground. 

You can identify the weed by its slender, reddish stems and small, dark green, round to oblong leaves with reddish-purple spots in the middle. Spotted Spurge typically grows in thin lawns. 

The best way to remove small patches is through pulling or hoeing before they produce seed. Alternatively, spot treatments of selective herbicides like MCPP, 2,4-D, and dicamba can help eliminate less mature plants. 

The tip here is to deal with the weed early to avoid resorting to non-selective ingredients like glyphosate that will harm your grass. 

Ensure that you maintain a healthy turf through proper watering, mowing, and fertilization after removing the weeds to prevent regrowth.

3. Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum and Digitaria sanguinalis)

• Local Names: Smooth Crabgrass and Large Crabgrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Both crabgrass species are pesky annual weeds that can sneak into your lawn. What makes them tricky to identify is that they grow slowly at first and easily blend in with the rest of the grass during spring. 

It’s probably in summer that you’ll notice a different light-green shade of grass that stands out against your darker-green turf. Fortunately, there are a few effective removal methods you can deploy.

Hand pulling or hand-held tools are viable options for a few stands of grass. Ensure that you reseed the gaps to prevent the growth of other weeds. 

Postemergence herbicides containing quinclorac, mestorione, and fenoxaprop provide effective control against both grasses. Ensure that you apply the product appropriate for the growth stage for the best results.

If you’re concerned that crabgrass may appear the next spring, apply a crabgrass preventer or Tenacity for newly seeded turf or dithiopyr, prodiamine, and dithiopyr for established turf.

4. Creeping Charlie (Hederacea glechoma)

• Local Name: Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jenny, Gill Over the Ground, or Ground Ivy
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Creeping Charlie is a perennial weed efficient at forming dense mats in lawns. The fast-spreading weed is easily identifiable by its round to kidney-shaped leaves that produce a minty odor when crushed and purple-blue flowers. 

You’ll notice this weed in shady, moist, or thin areas of the lawn. Hand-pulling or hoeing is only viable for extremely small infestations. Make sure that you remove the entire root system and runners to avoid regrowth. 

However, due to its seed, rhizome, and stolon spreading habit, it’s a very difficult weed to control without herbicides. Use products containing 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, or sulfentrazone to get rid of Creeping Jenny in lawns. Keep in mind that even herbicide applications can take years to completely eradicate the weed. 

If the weed is progressively overtaking your lawn grass despite your best efforts, it’s best to kill all the vegetation and reseed your lawn. 

5. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Chickweed or Common Chickweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Common Chickweed is a winter annual broadleaf that you’ll probably find in shady and moist areas of your lawn. But don’t let the small, delicate plant with tear-drop-shaped leaves and  star-like flowers fool you. It can produce an average of 25,000 seeds per plant with a viability of over 10 years. 

It is also a host to plant viruses and pest insects. This can only mean bad news for your turf, especially if it’s nitrogen-rich, as it prefers highly fertile and neutral soils.

If you’re dealing with a small infestation, hand-pulling before seed set and when the soil is moist can help eliminate the weed. For bigger infestations, consider herbicides like dicamba and triclopyr. Ensure that you check the label for indications on specific turfgrasses. 

Once removed, maintain a healthy lawn and proper drainage to discourage seed germination.

6. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

• Local Name: Purslane or Common Purslane
• Family: Portulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

You probably appreciate Common Purslane’s diverse culinary benefits but not when it’s growing on your front lawn. The low growing weed prefers invading newly seeded turf, low-maintenance lawns, or areas in the lawn under full sun.

For easy identification, look for small, flat, rubbery leaves and reddish stems that branch out of a central root. If left unchecked, Purslane can form dense mats on your lawn and quickly produce thousands of seeds that remain viable up to 40 years. 

However, since the spreading branches come off a single root, it is easy to pull by hand. Ensure you remove the entire root system and dispose of it correctly to avoid rerooting. 

Postemergence herbicides you can consider include dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPP, and MSMA. Improving your lawn practices to achieve a healthy and competitive turf can get rid of this weed problem in the following seasons.

7. Carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata)

• Local Name: Green Carpetweed, Whorled Chickweed, Indian Carpetweed, or Devil’s Grip 
• Family: Molluginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

As its name suggests, this summer annual weed grows close to the ground, hardly exceeding 5 inches in height. Carpetweed thrives in disturbed areas and will therefore commonly invade newly planted turf.

From a central root, it grows a circular mat of dull green leaves with variable shapes that spread in all directions, quickly forming dense mats. 

Hand pulling or digging using a garden tool is a viable option in the initial stage of the infestation. 

For larger infestations, apply herbicides containing one or more of the active ingredients like 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, or triclopyr on actively growing foliage for effective control.

8. Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)

• Local Name: Creeping Buttercup, Creeping Crowfoot, or Sitfast
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Picking Creeping Buttercup games are no longer fun when it’s creeping on your prized lawn. The stoloniferous weed is commonly found in thin turf, forming large patches through new plants that root at the nodes. 

To correctly identify the low growing weed, look for three lobed leaves or leaflets variable in shape, with deep sinuses and serrated margins. 

Improving lawn density through regular mowing, infrequent irrigation, and improved drainage can drastically reduce infestations. 

Postmergence herbicides like triclopyr, dicamba, MCPA, mesotrione, 2,4-D, and fluroxypyr can assist in removing the pesky weeds.

9. Virginia Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana)

• Local Name: Virginia Buttonweed or Buttonweed
• Family: Rubiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Buttonweed is one of the most problematic low growing lawn weeds. The annual broadleaf produces deep roots and grows prostrate and spreading branches.

It is easily identifiable by its stiff, slightly thickened leaves, typically with a distinct mottled yellow appearance and occasionally hairy, longitudinally-ridged stems. 

Postemergence herbicides containing 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, and carfentrazone provide the best means of removing the persistent weed from your lawn for good.

10. Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)

• Local Name: Yellow Oxalis, Shamrock, Sheep’s Clover, or Sour Trefoil
• Family: Oxalidaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual or Short-lived Perennial

Unlike many early weed springers, the Yellow Woodsorrel prefers to fill up the gaps left by the weeds eliminated in the yard. The weed typically grows about 6 inches in height and you can identify it by its palmately compound, heart-shaped leaves. 

What makes Shamrock a tricky weed is that it can occur in poorly or highly maintained lawns, dry or moist soils, and in shady or sunny spots. 

Additionally, since they grow so close to the ground at first and can appear as individual plants or as patches, you’ll only notice them once the weeds start to flower. 

Hand pulling is easy for controlling young plants. Herbicides indicated for Yellow Oxalis include 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, triclopyr, and fluroxypyr.

11. Wild Violet (Viola papilionacea)

• Local Name: Purple Violet, Meadow Violet, Common Blue Violet, or Hooded Violet
• Family: Violaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Wild Violet is an aggressive low growing weed that prefers moist soils and shaded areas. The dense rhizome system allows the weed to spread quickly, forming large patches. 

You can identify it by its showy violet, blue, or white flowers and waxy, heart-shaped leaves. Wild Violet commonly invades turf that is adjacent to wooded areas. 

Removal methods include hand-pulling, with the extraction of the entire root system required. While it has shown resistance to common herbicides, repeated applications of combinations of two or more active ingredients, such as 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, fluroxypyr, and flumioxazin, can help remove the weed.

12. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

• Local Name: Indian Goosegrass or Wiregrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Goosegrass is a tropical grass that grows prostrate or slightly upright in lawns. It has flattened, branching stems that typically form a tough and clumpy growth, especially in high-traffic areas or thinning turf. 

The grass can be easily identified by its stem rosette formation with prominent  white or silver leaf sheaths at the base and dark-green folded leaf blades.

It is a problematic weed because of its prolific seed production and aggressive growth. If you’re dealing with a small infestation, hand-pulling may be effective. 

Herbicides indicated for Goosegrass control include MCPP, topramezone, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, and dicamba. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post List of Low Creeping Lawn Weeds And Their Removal Methods appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Many common weeds we find in our backyards provide essential food in the form of seeds and fruits. When the leaves fall and form dense debris on the ground, they harbor insects and other crawling worms that are a protein-rich buffet for birds.

Apart from supporting their foraging habits, some of these weeds also offer temporary low-ground shelter. Ultimately, you can conclude that weeds, however troublesome, are an important part of the food chain. 

So, before you clear out these plants, read our post, and find out how much fauna they are sustaining every season. Hopefully, it helps you make more bird-friendly choices in your own backyard.

1. Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale)

• Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale
• English Name: Dandelion or Common Dandelion
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Broadleaf

Dandelions are one of the first weeds to sprout in backyards every spring. This makes them an early food source for insects, which in turn feed insectivorous birds. 

Once the flowers set seed, their fluffy seed heads become a favorite food for birds such as the finches and sparrows. 

Additionally, dandelions also draw aphids, beetles, and ants, attracting starlings and robins for the protein-rich food.

2. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Scientific Name: Stellaria media
• English Name: Chickweed, Birdweed, Chickweed, Chickenwort, or Common Chickweed
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Broadleaf

The cool-annual weed is easy to recognize by its many mats in shady, moist areas. It is also known to be a chicken’s favorite, hence the name. 

Ground-feeding birds like sparrows, doves, starlings, and robins sometimes feast on the seeds and tender, succulent leaves. 

Chickweed also provides a cool mat that shelters insects (another food source), especially important for birds like Dark-Eyed Juncos during the breeding season.

3. Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)

• Scientific Name: Digitaria spp.
• English Name: Crabgrass
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Grass

Crabgrass tops the list of the most loathed weeds in most backyards. Yet, the sheer species of birds that love the common Crabgrasses, Smooth Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum) and Large Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) is surprising. 

In late summer, for instance, its seed heads ripen into a favorite snack both for domestic birds like chickens, migrating birds like geese, and other ground-feeding birds like doves, finches, and sparrows. 

The grass blades also host insect larvae that attract young birds, including song birds who heavily rely on the larvae and other bugs during breeding season and when feeding their young.

4. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

• Scientific Name: Ambrosia artemisiifolia
• English Name: Ragweed, Common Ragweed, Carrot Weed, or Hay Fever Weed
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Broadleaf

Ragweed might be infamous for triggering allergies, but birds are less concerned with its negative effects, as it is one of the top backyard weeds that birds love.

Its tiny seeds are high in fat and a critical food source for many birds getting ready for migration, such as blackbirds and towhees. 

Song birds such as cardinals and goldfinches and game birds like quails, rick-necked pheasants, scaled quails, and doves also eat the oil-rich seeds in the winter. 

Ragweed seeds are, in fact, more nutritious than commercial bird seeds and readily provide energy when the birds need it most. 

5. Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium album)

• Scientific Name: Chenopodium album
• English Name: Lambsquarters, Goosefoot, White Goosefoot, or Pigweed
• Annual or Perennial: Annual
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Broadleaf 

You may find lambsquarters in your garden or a newly disturbed area in your backyard. What you may not know is that the close cousin of quinoa springs up with plenty of good nutrition for birds to love. 

The weed produces an abundance of small seeds (containing iron, potassium, vitamins, and dietary fiber) that attract sparrows, goldfinches, and buntings. 

What makes Goosefoot a good foraging plant is that it also grows tall, providing both food and shelter. Their vertical structure improves bird habitat diversity in otherwise flat garden beds and lawns.

6. Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

• Scientific Name: Capsella bursa-pastoris
• English Name: Shepherd’s Purse
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Broadleaf

This cool-weather weed is a common sight in gardens, lawns, and hedgerows. Numerous birds don’t mind its cress-like scent once the poultry are done nibbling on the leaves. 

Goldfinches, grouses, sparrows, doves, and chaffinches are some of the small birds that relish the small, heart-shaped seed pods. 

The weed also attracts pollinators, small insects, and larvae from weevils and leaf-mining flies, adding another source for insect-eating birds.

7. Foxtail (Setaria spp.)

• Scientific Name: Setaria spp.
• English Name: Foxtail 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 
• Grass, Sedge, Broadleaf: Grass

Foxtail, an annual grass weed with a distinct, narrow, and cylindrical panicle, is another common weed that birds love. 

The bushy seed heads are a preferred food source for a variety of birds, including finches, doves, rusty blackbirds, bobwhite quails, sparrows, buntings, dickcissels, and many more.

Foxtail grasses also attract grasshoppers, fleas, stinkbugs, and aphids, which add to the variety of food birds can enjoy, especially in late summer and early fall when other food sources are declining. 

8. Plantain (Plantago major)

• Scientific Name: (Plantago major)
• English Name: Plantain, Cart Track Plant, Great Plantain, or Broad-Leaved Plantain
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 
• Grass, Sedge, Broadleaf: Broadleaf

Plantain is a common lawn and field weed that can persist through traffic, both from humans, bugs, and birds.

Its tall spikes produce over 20,000 seeds, orange to black and bitter-tasting to humans, but are a hit with sparrows, juncos, doves, and cardinals. Other birds like the ruffed grouse may also eat the leaves and stalks.  

Common Plantain’s leaves also offer ground cover and micro-shade that attracts bugs and keeps the soil cool, making it an ideal plant for foraging birds.

9. Smartweed (Persicaria pensylvanica)

• Scientific Name: Persicaria pensylvanica
• English Name: Pennyslyvannia Smartweed or Pink Smartweed
• Annual or Perennial: Annual
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Broadleaf

Smartweed is often found in the backyard, especially in damp soil near drains or fence rows. It produces long flowers, inviting several types of insects such as bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, and wasps. 

So, apart from nibbling the black and shiny seeds the weed produces, as sparrows, mallards, and cardinals would do, they can add the protein-rich insects and amphibians that rest on flexible stems to their bounty.

10. Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)

• Scientific Name: Euphorbia maculata
• English Name: Spotted Spurge, Prostrate Spurge, or Spotted Sandmat
• Annual or Perennial: Annual
• Grass, Sedge, or Broadleaf: Broadleaf

While spurge itself is unfriendly to humans and pets, the low-growing mats are a favorite spot for pollinator insects, ants, and other insects that many birds love snacking on. 

The early and fast springer is especially beneficial to wrens, warblers, bluebirds, and robins that prefer to forage close to the ground. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Backyard Weeds That Birds Love: From Dandelions to Ragweed appeared first on InsightWeeds.

These prolonged and friendly weather conditions allow a varying range of native and invasive weeds to thrive continuously in  landscaping, roadsides, fields, pastures, and crop farms.

Below is a list of the most common weeds found in Florida, including details on their physical characteristics for better identification and the best removal methods.

1. Florida Pusley (Richardia scabria)

• Local Name: Florida Snow Weed, Mexican Clover, or Rough Mexican Clover
• Family: Rubiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Florida Pusley is a summer annual that’s mostly found in the Southeastern states, prostrate and spreading low along the ground. You can identify the weed by its pubescent, round stems, ovate to lanceolate leaves, and small, white, 6-petaled flowers at the tip ends of the stems. 

It spreads by seed but can also regrow from stem fragments, populating habitats such as thinned-out lawns, roadsides, and cultivated fields.  

Maintaining a healthy turf discourages weed growth in lawns, while a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch can control Pusley growth in gardens. 

Preemergence herbicides used for Florida Snow Weed control have active ingredients such as pendimethalin, prodiamine, isoxaben, and oryzalin. For existing infestations, consider products containing glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4-D, metsulfuron, and sulfentrazone.

2. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Common Chickweed, Chickenwort, or Winterweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Chickweed is native to Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. Today, it is widespread globally, including Florida. The winter or cool-annual weed can be found in shady lawns, gardens, pastures, and agricultural fields. 

It produces ovate to elliptic leaves, white, star-shaped flowers, and prostrate stems that form dense, compact mats across a landscape.

Frequent pulling, hand-weeding, or hoeing are viable options for small infestations. Be sure to remove the weeds before they bloom. Chickweed is a prolific seed producer and a quick-growing weed. 

Applying organic mulch (pine bark, wood chips, or pine straw) can provide effective control in nurseries and landscapes.

If you would like to prevent encroachment, apply preemergent products containing pendimethalin, dithiopyr, prodiamine, or indaziflam. Systemic herbicides like diquat, glufosinate, and glyphosate can help eradicate existing, small or more mature plants, respectively. 

3. Carolina False Dandelion (Pyrrhopapus carolinianus)

• Local Name: False Dandelion or Carolina Desert Chickory
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Like its close relative, Carolina False Dandelion is easily recognizable by its basal rosette leaves and showy, yellow flowers. However, unlike the typical solitary dandelion, the flower stalk is branched, presenting several flowers.

The weed thrives in wetter areas and can be found mostly in the northern part of the state, and can invade lawns, pastures, roadsides, and open fields. 

Maintaining a healthy lawn through proper watering, mowing, and fertilization practices will improve its competitiveness against the dandelion.

4. Southern Crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris)

• Local Name: Southern Crabgrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Southern Crabgrass is one of the most notorious grass weeds in Florida. The summer annual invades turfs and agricultural fields in the warmer months, competing for space and other important resources.

Since the grass can’t tolerate cold winter months, it turns brown, creating aesthetic issues in landscaping. 

Crabgrass calls for proactive prevention. For cropping systems, dig out the young plants early to prevent establishment. 

Ensure that you grow the right type of grass for your area and practice proper maintenance for a thick, healthy lawn that can outcompete weeds. 

Additionally, apply preemergence herbicides on already established turf, such as prodiamine, pendimethalin, and dithiopyr, to prevent crabgrass emergence. Postemergence herbicides will most likely harm the weeds and your turf as well.

5. Asiatic Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica)

• Local Name: Asiatic False Hawksbeard or Oriental False Hawkbeard
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Asiatic Hawksbeard is a common annual broadleaf weed that grows 6-15 inches tall. It is identified by its hairy, rosette leaves, hairless upper stems, and circular, golden flowers.

While it may be an annual in other Southeastern states, it is a persistent all-year-round weed throughout Florida. The weed can be found in lawns, gardens, ditches, roadsides, and agricultural fields. 

Hand-pull the weeds before they develop deep roots or set seed. Laying an organic layer of mulch on garden beds can keep away the weeds. 

The preemergence herbicide flumioxazin or spot treatments of postemergence products like pelargonic acid, glyphosate, and diquat can provide effective control against Asiatic Hawksbeard. 

6. Dollarweed (Hydrocotyle umbellata)

• Local Name: Dollarweed or Pennywort
• Family: Araliaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Dollarweed is a native, perennial weed that occurs in wet, open areas. It produces small (the size of a silver dollar, hence the name), round green leaves that form dense mats low on the ground. 

Apart from ditches and swamp habitats, Pennywort can also occur in overirrigated or naturally wet areas in gardens and lawns.   

Remove the weeds by pulling them, including the white rhizomatous roots, to prevent regrowth. Also, adopt the appropriate mowing and irrigation practices to eliminate weed growth.

7. Carolina Cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum)

• Local Name: Carolina Geranium or Wild Geranium
• Family: Geraniaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Carolina Geranium is a native weed commonly associated with landscaping and other disturbed areas. This annual grows from winter to summer and can reach 8-28 inches tall. 

You can identify it by its hairy, greenish-pink to red stems, round to kidney-shaped, 5-parted leaves, and five-petaled, pale pink flowers.  

While it is a popular garden plant and one of Florida’s favorite pollinators, it is a prolific seed producer and can also become weedy. However, G. carolinianum does not tolerate traffic. So, you’ll find it in border areas, including along fence lines and landscape edges. 

To remove Carolina Geranium, maintain a healthy lawn, pull it by hand from its taproot, or cut the plants before seed set. Consider a herbicide like 2,4-D and apply to young actively growing plants.

8. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

• Local Name: Goosegrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Short-lived Perennial

Goosegrass is native to Africa, Europe, and Asia. While it is classified as an annual in other parts of North America, in Florida’s tropical climate, the weed grass can persist as a short-lived perennial.

It thrives in a variety of soils, including high-traffic and compacted areas, and can easily compete with other cool and warm-season turfs. As a prolific seed producer and rapid-growing grass, it can be an aggressive and persistent weed in lawns, gardens, roadsides, and open fields. 

Maintaining a healthy and vigorous lawn is the best preventative strategy against a Goosegrass encroachment.

For small, existing infestations, manually removing the crown will provide effective control because Goosegrass does not regrow once it’s removed.

Since this grass species is highly adaptable, it has been reported to develop resistance to common herbicides like prodiamine and glyphosate. We recommend engaging a local extension expert for advice on the best chemical control strategy.

9. Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora)

• Local Name: Doveweed
• Family: Commelinaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Doveweed is a native of Asia and tropical Pacific regions but has since been naturalized in other tropical climate zones, including Florida. Locally, it is mostly considered a turfgrass weed.

What makes it a tricky weed to discover and keep away is its resemblance to other turf grass leaves when young. Additionally, it spreads by seeds and grows rapidly, especially in poorly drained areas. Doveweed typically invades St Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia turfgrasses. 

Maintaining a healthy lawn is the best defence against pesky weeds like Doveweed. Correct any drainage issues in your landscape to discourage growth.

Pull small infestations by hand and dispose of the stem fragments to prevent regrowth. Preemergence herbicides work best for Doveweed control. They can be spray or granular herbicides, including indaziflam and S-metalochlor depending on the infestation area.  

10. Florida Betony (Stachys floridana)

• Local Name: Florida Betony, Florida Edgenettle, or Rattlesnake Weed
• Family: Lamiceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Florida Betony is a native weed that emerges between September and October in North Florida and between November and December in Central and South Florida. 

The cool-season weed is erect, with square stems, serrated leaves, and clusters of pink and white flowers with purple spots. It is highly adaptable (it can thrive in two extreme conditions, like full sun or shade) and can be found in various habitats, including gardens, lawns, planting beds, and fields.

The weed develops numerous tubers and rhizomes, making it difficult to control. Hand pulling and digging out the root systems can be effective for small infestations. 

For larger areas, consider a systemic postemergence herbicide like glyphosate, as it will kill the plant down to the tubers and rhizomes.

11. Matchweed (Phyla nodiflora)

• Local Name: Matchweed, Texas Frogfruit, Turkey Tangle Fruit, Capeweed
• Family: Verbenaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Matchweed is a native perennial that is considered both a weed and a good groundcover in Florida.

It produces prostrate, branched stems, 1-inch-long leaves with toothed margins near the apex, and white to pink pollinator flowers. 

Where lawns are preferred, it is considered a weed. It spreads by seeds and stolons, forming dense mats and overtaking large areas. Where soils and environmental conditions may not be conducive for lawn maintenance, Matchweed is considered a groundcover alternative. 

If it becomes weedy, hand-pulling or applying a postemergence herbicide like atrazine, depending on your turfgrass type can help eradicate the weed.

12. Purple Thistle (Cirsium horridulum)

• Local Name: Purple Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial 

Purple Thistle is among the most common thistles found throughout Florida. You can identify it by its abundant spines on every part of the plant, including the basal rosette leaves, stems, and the compact purple brushheads surrounded by spiny leaves.

The weed occurs naturally along roads, prairies, pinelands, pastures, and other disturbed sites. It is a prolific seed producer that also spreads through underground suckers, making it difficult to control. 

Well-timed mowing after the rosettes bolt but before they flower can control the thistle spread. For long-term control, consider applying herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, or glyphosate on the Purple Thistle rosettes. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post List of Common Weeds in Florida, USA appeared first on InsightWeeds.

However, apart from the common culprits that thrive in the nutrient-rich soils, increasing temperatures in Michigan have also encouraged more weeds to thrive across the Midwestern State. 

In this article, we’ll look at the most prevalent weeds in Michigan, how to identify them, and the best strategies to effectively remove them.

1. Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Common Chickweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Common Chickweed is a small, low-growing winter annual that thrives in shady and moist landscape areas. It has teardrop-shaped light green leaves and small, star-like flowers. 

The broadleaf forms mounded patches about 3-7 inches tall that can smother seedlings of desirable plants and turf. 

The best removal methods include pulling, tillage best conducted in the fall, mulching in garden beds, crop rotation in wheat fields, or herbicides containing 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, and mecocrop.

2. Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)

• Local Name: Broadleaf plantain
• Family: Plantaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Broadleaf Plantain is one of the most common weeds, only second to dandelion in Michigan. The broadleaf weed can adapt to a variety of soils, allowing it to grow in diverse areas, including manicured lawns, roadsides, and disturbed sites. 

You can easily identify it by its smooth, broad to narrow oval leaves that emerge from a rosette attached to a thick taproot and leafless slender spikes with tiny white flowers at the end of the spikes. 

Remove the weeds by pulling or digging, and ensure you remove the taproot. This is easier when the soil is moist, for instance, after irrigation or rain. Mulching and herbicides like glyphosate can also provide effective control against P. major. 

3. Smooth Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum)

• Local Name: Smooth Crabgrass or Small Crabgrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Smooth Crabgrass is a warm-season grass weed that germinates in spring and grows throughout summer. It thrives in open areas, especially in vegetable gardens, lawns, roadsides, and sidewalks. 

You can differentiate it from other Digitaria species by its smooth leaves and stems with occasional hairs.

Since it’s a ground-hugging grass, it can get difficult to control if allowed to establish. Pull out the small mounds before they develop secondary fibrous roots. You can also consider a crabgrass preventer herbicide application for your lawn in to prevent germination in spring. 

4. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Local Name: Dandelion
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

No lawn or garden is immune to the most common weed in Michigan, the Dandelion. While it has stunning, bright yellow flowers that later become fluffy seed heads, it can easily take over your landscape. 

If left unchecked, the perennial weed can spread many seeds (15,000 per solitary dandelion) over large areas. Additionally, the taproot persists through winter to allow new sproutings in the next spring.

Pull out these weeds by hand or use dandelion removal tools to remove the entire taproot. In gardens, planting early can reduce space and competitiveness. Fall applications of herbicides like 2,4-D, glyphosate, and triclopyr can control larger infestations.

5. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

• Local Name: White Clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

White clover is a creeping plant native to Europe and Asia that is popularly cultivated as a forage crop. In Michigan, clover is referred to more as a weed and can be found in open woods, dry meadows, pastures, and closer to home, in gardens and lawns with nutrient deficiencies. 

Clover can be easily identified by its trifoliate leaves and white to pink flowers. It is a nitrogen-fixing plant so, you may allow it to grow to benefit your soil and vegetation.

However, if you can’t stand the weed in your landscape, pull them out when young and maintain a healthy lawn that can outcompete the weed.

6. Quackgrass (Elymus repens)

• Local Name: Quackgrass, Quitch Grass, Knot Grass, Wheat Grass, or Couch Grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Quackgrass is an aggressive weed commonly found in gardens, lawns, and crop fields. It is easily distinguished from other grasses by its evergreen, linear, blue-green color and wheat-shaped spikelets.

The highly competitive grass spreads by seeds and rhizomes and can lead to loss of aesthetic appeal in manicured spaces and high yield losses in cropping systems. 

Well-planned and repeated cultivation can help eradicate the grass. Ensure to clean the equipment and dispose of all the rhizome fragments to prevent reinfestation. 

Crop rotation of plants that accrue high biomass or competitive species like Hairy Vetch in crop fields can reduce the grass infestation.

Nicosulfuron in farms and postemergence herbicides like glyphosate are also effective in quackgrass control. 

7. Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

• Local Name: Canada Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Canada Thistle is a perennial spring weed that grows in thick patches about 3-5 feet tall. It produces lance-shaped leaves with spiny margins and fuzzy undersides and pink to white flowers surrounded by flat bracts. 

It spreads aggressively by roots, expanding 6-10 feet wide in a single growing season. Repeat hand-pulling of the rosette leaves to eradicate the plants. For blooming plants, cut the flowers and the seedhead and dispose of them properly. 

Herbicides like glyphosate, dicamba, and 2,4-D applied between the bud and flower stages can control larger and more established infestations.

8. Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)

• Local Name: Henbit
• Family: Lamiceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Henbit is a winter annual that grows about 5 inches tall. In Michigan, it emerges in the late fall and can be easily identified by its green to purple square stems and showy purple to pink flowers.

The Eurasian native is considered among the most troublesome weeds in gardens, lawns, pastures, and in cropping systems like grain and wheat fields. 

Late fall and early spring tillage can control henbit seedlings. Crop rotation and optimal planting of grains can limit the spread. Herbicides recommended for henbit control should be applied in the fall. They include glyphosate and paraquat. 

9. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

• Local Name: Bull Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial

Bull is a biennial broadleaf weed that thrives in various habitats in Michigan, including roadsides, meadows, fields, ditches, riparian areas, and other disturbed sites.

You can identify the weed by its spiny stems and leaves, and pink to purple flowers present on a gumdrop-shaped flower head with numerous surrounding spines.

To prevent the rapid spread of the noxious weed, pull out the small plants and retrieve the taproot. Make sure to wear protective clothing as you handle the weeds. 

For larger infestations, targeted mowing can help reduce seeding and hence control the populations. Alternatively, apply glyphosate or triclopyr to eliminate Bull Thistle. 

Since C. vulgare is a prolific seed producer, eradicating it requires several seasons of consistent management and monitoring, so exercise patience as you tackle the weed.

10. Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi)

• Local Name: Giant Foxtail or Nodding Foxtail
• Family: Poaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Giant Foxtail is a summer annual that emerges in spring and grows to about 3-7 feet tall. It is native to Eastern Asia and was first introduced in New York City and then spread to other states, including Michigan.

This foxtail has 12-inch-long leaves with hairs on the upper surface and folded in a bud. It also has erect, clump-forming stems and cylindrical panicles of green to purple bristles that droop at maturity and resemble a fox’s tail. 

While unassuming at first, this troublesome weed can outcompete other desirable plants and turf in gardens, lawns, and many agronomic cropping systems. 

Cover cropping and crop rotation can reduce the weed density and spread. Apply preemergence and postemergence herbicides such as atrazine, fenoxaprop, and glyphosate, depending on the area of infestation, to control large infestations. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Most Common Weeds in Michigan, USA, and Their Removal Methods appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Geographically, it stretches from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the prairies and boreal forests in the east, making it one of Canada’s most diverse regions in terms of landscape.

In terms of climate, this province experiences a continental climate, characterized by warm to hot summers and cold winters. These climatic factors encourage the growth of a wide range of garden weeds.

Additionally, as the sunniest province in Canada with fluctuating moisture levels, Alberta is an ideal environment for persistent and invasive weed species.

This article covers 20 common weeds you’ll find in your outdoor space along with their distinct physical attributes for easy identification. We’ll also recommend the best removal methods to help maintain a healthy, weed‑free garden. 

1. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

• Local Name: White Clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

White clover is a perennial creeping plant that generally grows 10-15 cm tall. You can identify it by its three-parted leaflets and white clustered flowers that fade to pink with age. 

It is native to Europe and Asia, and since it was introduced in Canada, it can be found throughout Alberta in a variety of habitats, including residential gardens and lawns.

T. repens aggressively roots at stem nodes, forming large patches in areas around the garden where other plants will not grow.

There are several ways to eliminate white clover. You can manually remove the young plants, grow a vigorous lawn that outcompetes the weed through increased nitrogen fertilization, or increase mowing height, preferably over 3 inches.  

2. Black Medic (Medicago lupulina)

• Local Name: Hop Clover, Black Clover, or Yellow Trefoil
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual or Short-lived Perennial

Black Medic is a common broadleaf weed in the legume family. It is native to Europe and temperate Asia, but now can be found in many regions across Alberta. You can identify it by its trifoliate leaves and small yellow flowers. 

Like White Clover, Black Medic is a strong indicator of low nitrogen levels in your outdoor landscape. It is a prolific seed producer and grows a deep tap root, quickly becoming invasive. 

Hand-pulling is a viable option for small infestations. Correct compaction, aerate, seed, or fertilize your soil to prevent Black Medic growth.

3. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Local Name: Dandelion
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Few weeds can scream spring in Alberta like dandelions. Their vigorous growth and bright yellow heads usher in warmer weather after long, cold winters. However, they can also take over gardens, and like other prolific seed-producing weeds, they stick out like a sore thumb. 

You can pull them out by hand and make sure to remove the entire taproot to prevent regrowth. Cutting the weeds before they seed using handy tools can also efficiently remove the weeds. 

4. Quackgrass (Elymus repens)

• Local Name: Quackgrass or Couch Grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Quackgrass is one of the most troublesome weeds in Alberta. The perennial grass can be identified by its linear, light-green leaves and wheat-like spikelets. 

As an aggressive weed, it spreads by seeds and rhizomes and establishes deep roots, taking over gardens quickly. It not only competes with other desirable plants but also diminishes the aesthetic appeal of the outdoor spaces. 

Remove the clumps of grass by hand or through repeated cultivation. Ensure that you remove the rhizome fragments and dispose of them to prevent regrowth. 

5. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

• Local Name: Purslane
• Family: Portulacaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Purslane is a native of Northern Africa and Southern Europe, but has been widely naturalized in Alberta. It is a low-growing succulent weed with reddish stems and flat, rubbery leaves that form dense mats in gardens. 

While P. oleracea is adapted to growing in poor soils, you’ll mostly find it in poorly maintained gardens or newly established turf. 

Hand-pulling is generally sufficient to remove purslane weeds, as solitary plants tend to cover large areas. Ensure that all leaves and stems are disposed of correctly. 

6. Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

• Local Name: Canadian Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Canada thistle is an aggressive colony-forming weed that grows up to 1.5 m tall. It is easily identified by its lance-shaped, dark green leaves with spiny margins and clusters of pink to purple flowers. 

This noxious weed spreads by seed and creeping roots, quickly overtaking desirable plants and turf in gardens. 

Pull or dig deeply to remove roots or mow before seed set to starve the weed of nutrients.

7. Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)

• Local Name: Leafy Spurge
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

A native of Europe and Asia, Leafy Spurge was introduced as an ornamental in Alberta and has since been classified as a noxious weed. 

It has clumpy stems, waxy, bluish-green leaves, and small yellowish-green flowers supported by bracts. It forms deep roots (up to 9m) and spreads 4-5m laterally. 

For these reasons, eradicating leafy spurge requires patience (as complete eradication may take time) and a multifaceted approach. Consider hand pulling or mowing for small, young plants and continuous, intensive cultivation for larger plants until complete eradication is achieved.

8. Common Mallow (Malva neglecta)

• Local Name: Garden Mallow
• Family: Malvaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Common Mallow is a herbaceous perennial, erect or prostrate, about 90 cm tall. It has branched and hairy stems, long-stalked, green to purple leaves, and five-petaled white to pinkish flowers. 

While it may provide beautiful blooms for the garden, it can also spread if left unchecked. Digging out the seedlings before they develop woody taproots is the best option. This is achievable before the plant develops four leaves.

9. Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)

• Local Name: Creeping Bellflower
• Family: Campanulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

A common summer garden weed in Alberta, Creeping Bellflower can steal the heart with its bright, bell-shaped, purple flowers. However, it’s an aggressive and invasive plant that tends to take over the entire garden, making it a weed to watch. 

To effectively remove it, use your hands or a small garden shovel and ensure you dig out the entire root system to avoid regrowth.

10. Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Chickweed, Nodding Chickweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual or Short-lived Perennial

While it may be native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa, chickweed has since been introduced in Canada and can now be found throughout Alberta.

You can identify the winter weed by its egg-shaped to elliptic leaves, small, white, star-shaped flowers, and delicate, prostrate stems that form mats on the ground. 

Remove the weed by hand-pulling or using a digging tool when the ground is moist, as it has shallow roots, and ensure all seeds and stems are well disposed of to prevent regrowth. Mulching the affected area may also control the weed growth.

11. Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

• Local Name: Yellow Nutgrass, Chufa Sedge, Tigernut, Grass Nutsedge, or Earth Almond
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Yellow Nutsedge is a native weed that you’ll probably find in poorly drained areas in your vegetable or flower garden. The grass-like sedge has yellow-greenish leaf blades and yellow or purple flower heads. 

To get rid of the sedge, repeatedly remove the small plants before they develop tubers. Eliminate the wet conditions in your garden by applying a fabric mulch.

12. Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

• Local Name: Meadow Buttercup, Field Buttercup, or Giant Buttercup
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Tall Buttercup is a perennial plant that grows up to 1 meter tall. The weed has branched stems, deeply lobed leaves, and bright yellow flowers. 

It is typically found in meadows and pastures but can also grow in gardens, displacing desirable plants through its efficient seed and rhizome propagation. 

Hand-pulling and digging are viable control strategies for small infestations. Mowing and eliminating wet conditions around the garden can also reduce infestations.

13. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)

• Local Name: Annual Bluegrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

As the name implies, Bluegrass is an annual grass that is a common and persistent weed in gardens. It is a short-growing grass that competes for resources and also forms dense clumps, overtaking other garden plants. 

Pull or dig out the small grass infestations before seed production. Repeat as many times as possible to achieve complete eradication. 

14. Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

• Local Name: Garden Tansy or Golden Buttons
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Garden Tansy is an Eurasian native that grows 30-150 cm tall. It is easily identified by its clustered stems, alternate fern-like leaves, and golden-yellow button flowers. 

The aromatic perennial spreads by seeds and short underground rhizomes, competing for resources and forming dense patches that can reduce aesthetic appeal. 

The best removal methods are hand-pulling and mowing before seed set.

15. Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

• Local Name: Purple Loosestrife
• Family: Lythraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Purple Loosestrife was once a beloved garden staple for its stunning pink to purple flowers. However, due to its highly invasive nature, it has since been classified as a noxious weed in Alberta and other provinces in Canada. 

It forms numerous brushlike stands that compete for resources and can outcompete other vegetation. Look out for wet areas around your garden because once it establishes, it can cause waterlogging by blocking drainage.

Repeated cutting and mowing of the young plants before they set seed will provide effective control. 

16. Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

• Local Name: Common Toadflax
• Family: Plantaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Like many other Eurasian natives, Yellow Toadflax was introduced in Canadian provinces like Alberta as an ornamental and for other economic uses. 

While it can provide stunning lance-shaped leaves and showy yellow blooms to brighten your garden, it can easily escape and aggressively take over. 

Remove by pulling where applicable or incorporate heavy cultivation to ensure you dig out all the root stalks.  

17. Buckhorn Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

• Local Name: Narrow-leaved Plantain, English Plantain, or Rib Grass
• Family: Plantaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Buckhorn Plantain is a common garden weed that grows 30- 60 cm tall. It can be identified by its mature, elongated leaves with whitish midveins that form a basal rosette and a dense cluster of inconspicuous flowers on a cylindrical, upright flowerhead. 

This weed forms dense patches, quickly overtaking other desirable vegetation. It may also be a strong indicator of areas with low fertility. 

Quick removal intervention is vital for this plantain weed. Repeated hand-pulling and digging of the young plants to remove the root system is the best way to eradicate it. Monitor consistently and repeat the control measures as required to prevent regrowth. 

Laying a landscape fabric and organic mulch on seedlings can also limit weed growth and spread. 

18. Lamb’s Quarter (Chenopodium berlandieri) 

• Local Name: Lamb’s Quarter or Pigweed
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Lamb’s Quarter is an annual weed native to Europe and Asia that grows 1-2m tall. It has since spread to many parts of North America, including Alberta, CA. 

The common garden weed tends to produce many seeds, compete for important resources, and grow faster than other vegetation. Its dense growth can also shade out other low-growing plants, leading to their death.

Remove young plants by hand-pulling or apply organic mulch to suppress their growth.

19. Sow Thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

• Local Name: Mash Thistle, Field Thistle, Field Milk Thistle, or Creeping Sow Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

The perennial sow thistle is a common noxious garden weed throughout Alberta. It has long, slightly toothed leaves, yellow ray flowers, and can grow up to 1.5m tall. 

The weed spreads by seeds, which sprout in mid to late May in Alberta. What makes it a noxious weed is that it grows deep underground roots, such that even small infestations can choke out other desirable plants. 

Remove the young plants before they seed through digging and dispose of the fragments properly. 

20. Kochia (Bassia scoparia)

• Local Name: Tumbleweed
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Kochia is an Eurasian native that was introduced as an ornamental in Canada but has since become a problematic weed, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of Alberta.

The thick bushy olive green weed grows about 4-5 feet tall. It is a prolific seed producer, resilient in dry and saline conditions, and germinates early, and grows rapidly, encouraging quick spread in gardens.

The good news is that the young plant’s shallow taproots are easy to remove through pulling or hoeing. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post 20 Common Weeds in Alberta, CA, You’re Likely to Find in Your Garden appeared first on InsightWeeds.

The good news is that you can eliminate most of these weeds. However, the first step towards eradication is identifying the species you are dealing with, so it is important to know the most common weeds in Alabama. 

Below is a look at these weeds, their botanical name, identifying features, and top ways to eliminate them. 

1. Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Local Name: Dandelion
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Common dandelion is a perennial flowering plant with leafless stems that can grow between 5 and 40cm (sometimes 70cm) tall. Its leaves grow in a basal rosette pattern, with blades about 1-8cm wide and 5-37cm long. 

The leaves are dark green and simple, with deep lobes and deeply serrated margins. When broken, they produce a milk sap. 

The plant produces solitary flower heads that look like puffballs at the tip of each stalk (stem). The flowers are bright yellow, with 100-300 ray florets surrounding a yellow disc of florets. 

Common dandelion is native to Eurasia. However, it is naturalized in several regions worldwide, including: 

• USA (all the 50 states) 
• Canada
• South America
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Africa

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling or digging up the roots using special dandelion removal tools. This is best done when the soil is moist to facilitate the removal of the entire taproot.  
• Natural methods: Homemade weedkiller remedies such as boiling water and vinegar-soap dish solution can help contain dandelion. 
• Chemical herbicides: Selective broadleaf herbicides (dicamba, Mecoprop, and 2,4-D) or non-selective herbicides like glyphosate effectively eradicate dandelions. 
• Prevention: You can prevent common dandelion infestations by mulching, regular mowing (for lawns), and applying pre-emergent herbicides. 

2. Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Chickweed 
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Chickweed is an erect annual plant that grows to only 2 inches (sometimes 4-6 inches) tall and forms thick, dense mats. Its small, light green leaves are about 3-10mm wide and 6-25mm long. 

The leaf blades are oval-shaped (with a teardrop-like appearance), oppositely arranged, and with a toothless margin. 

On the other hand, the stems are branching, light green (with purplish tinges), and coated with a line of hairs. 

Chickweed blooms small, white flowers (about 1cm in diameter) with five white petals. The flowers later develop into seed capsules containing several tiny reddish-to-brown seeds.  

The plant is native to Eurasia. However, it is widely naturalized in several regions worldwide, including: 

• USA
• Mexico
• Canada
• Alaska
• South America (Colombia, Chile) 
• New Zealand 
• Pacific Islands

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Mechanical control techniques like hand weeding, cultivation, and solarization can help eradicate chickweed when the plants are small and young.  
• Natural methods: You can eradicate chickweed using homemade remedies like boiling water, vinegar, vinegar-salt-soap dish solution, and rubbing alcohol. 
• Chemical control: You can eradicate chickweed using post-emergent herbicides, such as dicamba, MCCP, and Fluroxypyr. You can also contain the weed by spraying pre-emergent herbicides to prevent the germination of new plants. 
• Biological control: Birds and livestock can help contain the spread of the plant by grazing on the foliage. Ground beetles also feed on chickweed seeds, which can prevent the germination of new plants. 

3. Clover (Trifolium repens) 

• Local Name: Clover, white clover, Dutch clover
• Family: Fabaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

White clover (Dutch clover or Ladino clover) is a low-growing herbaceous plant that grows 6-12 inches tall. Its creeping stems (stolons) can spread about 10-40cm long, producing roots and shoots at the nodes. 

It has trifoliate leaves, with three green, oval-shaped leaflets surrounded by a distinctive white, crescent-shaped band. The leaflets form a shamrock symbol and are attached to the stems by a long petiole.

White clover has white flowers (with pink tinges) which bloom from early summer. Each flowerhead has about 20-80 fragrant white florets. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Central Asia

However, it is widespread in several regions worldwide, including North America, the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. 

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: It can be contained by mechanical methods like hand-pulling, digging out the plant with gardening tools, and cultivation (in gardens). 
• Natural methods: It can be eradicated with natural weed killers like boiling water, corn gluten, and vinegar-soap dish solution. 
• Chemical control: Selective broadleaf herbicides like Dicamba, Mecoprop, and Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid can eradicate white clover, especially if it grows in lawns. 
• Prevention: You can prevent an infestation or re-infestation of white clover through preventative measures like mulching and adding nitrogen fertilizer to your lawn or crops. 

Here’s a complete guideline for eliminating white clover without killing your grass.

4. Mulberry Weed (Fatoua villosa) 

• Local Name: Mulberry weed, Foolish weed, Hairy crabweed
• Family: Moraceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Mulberry weed (crabweed or hairy crabweed) is a tall, erect-growing weed that can reach up to 4 feet tall. Its leaves are yellow-green, alternately arranged, and have prominent veins and toothed margins. 

The leaf blades are heart-shaped, large (up to 10cm long), and covered with prominent hairs. The plant’s stems grow in a branching pattern and are covered with sticky hairs. 

Mulberry weed produces purple flowers which bloom in feathery clusters on the leaf axils.

The inflorescence changes to dark brown as the seeds form, developing into achenes that open up explosively, expelling the seeds up to four feet away. 

It is native to:

• Japan
• Indonesia
• Korea
• Philippines
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Korea
• Australia
• Pacific Islands
• New Guinea

Removal Methods 

• Hand-pulling: Hand-pulling the plant (including the tap root) can be an effective control solution when the plants are young and before flowering and seeding. 
• Natural control: Mulching, suffocating with a plastic bag, or burning the plant with a weed burner. 
• Chemical control: The best control solution is post-emergent herbicides like Glyphosate, Triclopyr, and Glufosinate, or pre-emergent herbicides to prevent germination of new plants.

5. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) 

• Local Name: Annual Bluegrass, Low Speargrass
• Family: Poaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Annual bluegrass is a clumping, slightly creeping, and low-growing grass (about 15-25cm tall) that commonly invades lawns and turfgrass areas. 

It has light green leaves folded in the buds and smooth (with no hairs) on both surfaces. 

The leaf blades are about 1-5mm wide and 1.3-12.7cm long and have slightly (sometimes transversely) serrated margins. 

The grass produces small white to light green spikes of open, triangular-shaped inflorescence panicles that bloom in clusters. The plant flowers all year round (except during harsh winters). 

It is native to temperate areas of: 

• Europe
• Asia
• Africa

However, it is widely distributed in several regions, including North America, South America, Australia, North Africa, Antarctica, and more. 

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: You can remove small infestations by hand-pulling or digging the grass with gardening tools. 
• Natural control: Natural weed control remedies like white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda can help contain the weed grass.  
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated by pre-emergent herbicides like dithiopyr and trifluralin or post-emergent herbicides like Clethodim and fluazifop. You can also spot-treat with non-selective herbicides like glyphosate and Glufosinate. 
• Cultural control: You can keep Poa annua away from your lawn by maintaining a healthy lawn, mowing regularly, mulching, proper fertilization, and other lawncare practices. 

6. Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)

• Local Name: Showy Evening Primrose, Pink Sundrops, Pink Ladies
• Family: Onagraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Evening Primrose (Showy Evening Primrose) is a perennial wildflower with hairy stems reaching up to 50 cm in height. It has green hair leaves with short (or no) petiole that grows to about 4 cm wide and 10 cm long. 

The leaves are alternately arranged, with pointed tips and wavy (sometimes toothed) margins. 

The plant also produces showy, pink to whitish flowers that open in the evening (or cloudy weather) and close in the morning. 

Evening primrose flowers are cup-shaped, with four heart-shaped, fragrant petals. The plant also bears seed capsules, which produce egg-shaped seeds clustered in two or more rows. 

It is native to:

• Kansas
• Missouri 
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• Texas 
• New Mexico

It has since become naturalized in several states across the United States and Mexico. 

Removal Methods

• Hand pulling: Pulling (or digging out) the entire plant from the roots. You can also contain the spread of the plant by cutting off the flowers before they produce seeds. 
• Chemical control: Because of its highly invasive nature, Oenothera speciosa is best controlled by chemical herbicides, for example, non-selective herbicides like glyphosate. 

7. Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum) 

• Local Name: American black nightshade
• Family: Solanaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Black nightshade (American black nightshade, small-flowered nightshade, or glossy nightshade) is an herbaceous flowering plant that grows up to 1-1.5m tall. 

It has green to purplish hairy stems, which grow in a branching pattern. 

The plant has green, hairy leaves that are alternately arranged, ovate to lanceolate in shape, and with entire (sometimes irregular) margins. The leaves are large, reaching about 7cm wide and 10cm long. 

Black nightshade has tiny white (sometimes purplish) star-shaped flowers with a yellow, cone-shaped stamen. It also bears clusters of green berries, which turn into a shiny black or dark purple when ripe. 

It is native to:

• North America
• South America
• Melanesia 
• New Guinea
• Australia 

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling or digging up (with tools) the entire plant from the roots for small infestation. It can also be eradicated by regular mowing, plowing, and cultivating when dealing with infestations in lawns or crop fields. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated by applying post-emergent herbicides like dicamba, glyphosate, Glufosinate, and bromoxynil. You can also apply pre-emergent herbicides like Atrazine, isoxaflutole, or pyroxasulfone to prevent the emergence of new shoots. 
• Cultural control: Cultural practices like mulching, soil PH tests, fertilization, and planting of high-yielding competitive plants can help curtail or minimize the spread of Solanum americanum. 

8. Carolina Geranium (Geranium carolinianum) 

• Local Name: Carolina Crane’s Bill
• Family: Geraniaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual (or biennial)

Carolina geranium (Carolina Crane’s Bill) is a short, erect herb that grows to about 30-45cm tall. Its hairy, pink-to-red stems emerge from the base of the plant in a radial pattern. 

It has grayish-green, opposite palmate leaves divided into five segments with a deeply toothed margin. Like the stems, the leaflets are covered with fine hairs. 

The plant has small flowers that bloom in tight clusters at the tip of the stems or branches. The flowers have five petals and are light pink, white, or lavender. 

Carolina geranium is native to North America. It is also widespread (and considered an invasive species) in several states across the USA and central and south Mexico. 

Removal Methods 

• Hand weeding: Its shallow taproot makes it easy to pull out the entire plant, especially in gardens, lawns, and landscape beds. When hand-pulling, it is vital to remove the plant before it produces seeds. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated by spraying post-emergent herbicides like 2,4-D, Mecoprop, dicamba, and glyphosate. Pre-emergent herbicides like Atrazine can also prevent the germination of new plants. 
• Cultural control: Mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and keeping the grass healthy can help control the weeds in lawns and turfgrass areas. 

9. Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi) 

• Local Name: Japanese bristlegrass, Nodding foxtail, Chinese Foxtail
• Family: Poaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Giant foxtail (nodding bristlegrass, Chinese millet, or giant bristlegrass) is a clumping, colony-forming grass reaching 2-5 feet tall. 

It has smooth, erect-growing solitary stems that branch from the base of the plant. 

Setaria faberi has large (4-6 inches long and 7-20mm wide), light-green alternate leaves with short hairs on the upper surface. 

The leaves are attached to the stem by a round, open sheath with several hairs along the margin. 

The grass produces green, drooping spikeheads at the tip of the branches. The inflorescence (which resembles a foxtail, hence the common name) turns straw-colored over time. 

Setaria faberi is native to Asia. However, it is widely distributed across the United States. 

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Digging out the entire plant using gardening tools, frequent mowing, and repeated tillage before seeding can eradicate the grass. 
• Chemical control:  Spray with non-selective herbicides like glyphosate or selective herbicides like Lambient. Repeated treatments might be needed to eradicate new germinations if the grass has already produced seeds. 

10. Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago rugelii)

• Local Name: American plantain or Black seed plantain
• Family: Plantaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Broadleaf plantain (pale plantain, or Rugel’s plantain) is a perennial herb with erect-growing flowering stems that reach 5-25cm in height. 

It produces large, basal rosette leaves, with mature leaf blades reaching 3-6 inches long and 1-3 inches wide. 

The leaves are light green, oval to elliptical in shape, hairless, and wavy in margins. A thick stalk (up to 0.5 inches) with deep purplish red tinges attaches the leaves to the base of the plant. 

Plantago rugelii has inconspicuous, cellophane white flowers with four triangular-shaped petals that are folded back. The flowers bloom in a clustered spike head that forms at the top of the stems. 

The plant is native to North America and common in the central and eastern United States and Eastern Canada. 

Removal Methods 

• Hand weeding: Pulling the plant by hand or gardening tools may help eradicate small patches. However, the entire plant must be removed to prevent re-germination. 
• Chemical control: Spray with pre-emergent herbicides like isoxaben, indaziflam, and mesotrione or post-emergent herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, diquat, glyphosate, Mecoprop, and Triclopyr. 

Since this is a broadleaf weed, you can use any of these broadleaf elimination methods.

11. Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)

• Local Name: Woodland sunflower, spreading sunflower 
• Family: Asteraceae 
• Annual or Perennial:  Perennial 

Woodland sunflower (rough sunflower or rough woodland sunflower) is a tall-growing herb that can reach 60-180cm tall and 30-90cm wide. 

It is an aggressively growing plant that can spread vigorously through creeping rhizomes, forming large colonies. 

Helianthus divaricatus has dark green, short-stalked leaves arranged oppositely on the stems. The leaves have a wide base, a pointed tip, smooth to slightly toothed margins, and hairy undersides. 

The plant has conspicuous, star-shaped, bright yellow flowers, with 8-15 yellow florets surrounding a yellow or orange central disc. Flowering occurs from early summer to fall and form at the tip of the stems. 

It is native to central and eastern North America, including: 

• Alabama
• Louisiana
• Iowa 
• Florida
• Oklahoma
• Ontario
• Quebec

Removal Methods 

Because it aggressively spreads through rhizomes, most weed control practices, such as hand-pulling, mowing, and tilling, are ineffective. 

Therefore, chemical herbicides are the best solution to eradicate Helianthus divaricatus. 

Depending on where it grows, you can spray infestations with broadleaf herbicides like Triclopyr and Clopyralid or non-selective herbicides like glyphosate. 

Note: Woodland sunflowers have an impressive rhizome root system that can keep producing new shoots after the old ones die. Therefore, several herbicide treatments are needed to eradicate the plant. 

12. Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)

• Local Name: Hairy bittercress, common bittercress
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual (sometimes biennial) 

Hairy bittercress is a low-growing plant with short stems (3-8 inches long), often reddish purple at the base and greener up the stem. 

It has small, green, basal rosette leaves that are pinnately divided into about 8-15 leaflets and attached to the stem by short petioles. 

The leaflets are ovate to round in shape with smooth or serrated margins. The upper part of the leaflets stems, and petioles are covered by sparse hairs. 

Cardamine hirsuta has small, white flowers with four white petals. The flowers bloom in clusters, with single flowers forming on erect pedicels (stalks). 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Middle East
• Southeast Asia
• South Asia
• Central Asia
• Africa (central, north, and horn of Africa)

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Small patches can be easily eradicated by hand-pulling or digging them out with gardening tools. Tillage and mowing can also be used to control it. 
• Cultural control: Mulching, fertilization, and proper lawn management can contain the spread of hairy bittercress and keep it off your lawn.  
• Chemical control: Spraying with selective and broadleaf herbicides like 2,4-D, Mecoprop, dicamba, glyphosate, Triclopyr, and clopyralid. 

13. Common Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) 

• Local Name: Sow thistle, smooth sow thistle
• Family: Asteraceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Common sow thistle (hare’s colwort, hare’s thistle, milk thistle, or soft thistle) is an erect-growing plant with hollow stems that reach up to 30-100cm in height. 

It has simple, dark green leaves that measure about 6-20cm long by 2-9cm wide. 

The leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate in shape and alternately arranged (one leaf per node) along the stem. 

Lower leaves have serrated margins and deep lobes, while upper leaves have shallow and entire, serrated margins. 

The plant produces conspicuous yellow flower heads. Each flower head has 80-250 ray florets without a central disc. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Western Asia
• Middle East
• Africa

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling can be effective when the plant is young. However, older plants are harder to pull out of the ground, as they can easily break off only to re-emerge later. 
• Natural control: Natural weed killer solutions like vinegar, boiling water, corn gluten, and others might work in small patches of young plants. 
• Chemical control: The weed can be eradicated by spraying herbicides like glyphosate, diuron, clopyralid, 2,4-D, and dicamba. 

14. Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium) 

• Local Name: Jimsonweed, Devil’s apple, Thorn apple
• Family: Solanaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Jimson weed (devil’s trumpet or thornapple) is an erect, bush-forming herb that grows to 60-200cm tall. Its stout, green to purplish stems are hollow inside and branching in the upper portions. 

The plant has simple green leaves measuring 8-25cm long by 6-17cm wide, arranged alternately along the stems. The leaf blades are ovate to elliptic, with deep, irregular leaves. 

Datura stramonium has white to purplish trumpet-shaped flowers that open at night. The flowers release a pleasant fragrance that attracts nocturnal moths. 

It also bears a green, spiny fruit capsule that turns dark brown when mature.  

Jimson weed is native to tropical regions of the Americas. However, it is widely distributed across several regions worldwide. 

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and cultivation are effective against young plants. However, older plants may re-emerge after cultivation. 
• Chemical control: Post-emergent herbicides like glyphosate, glufosinate-ammonium, and clopyralid; pre-emergent herbicides like flumioxazin and oxyfluorfen; and broadleaf herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, and Triclopyr. 
• Biological control: Alternaria crassa, a fungus, and threelined potato beetle (Lema trivittata) effectively control Datura stramonium. 

15. Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea) 

• Local Name: Purple morning glory, Tall morning glory 
• Family: Convolvulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial in native habitat but annual or short-lived perennial in naturalized areas. 

Common morning glory (tall morning glory or purple morning glory) is a climbing plant that can grow up to 2-3m in height. It has purplish-green trailing (or entwining) stems covered by hairs. 

Its leaves are green, simple, alternately arranged, and measuring 4-8cm long by 3-5cm wide. 

They are heart-shaped, with a wide base and sharp tip, covered with slight hairs on the upper surface, and sporting an entire margin. 

Ipomoea purpurea has showy white and purple (sometimes blue or pink) trumpet-shaped flowers. The flowerheads have a long stalk (up to 12cm) and small bracts covered in hairs. 

The weed is native to Mexico and Central America but widely naturalized in temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. 

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling is effective when dealing with young plants. Small infestations of mature plants can also be cut down and the roots dug out. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated using various herbicides, such as 2,4-D, Atrazine, glyphosate, oxyfluorfen, promamide, diuron, diquat, and simazine. 

16. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

• Local Name: Eastern poison ivy
• Family: Anacardiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Poison ivy (Eastern poison ivy) is a deciduous, woody vine that causes itchy and painful skin rushes, hence the name. 

It can grow as a shrub (up to 1.2m tall), trailing vine (10-25m long), or climbing vine (entwining on trees and other structures for support). 

The plant has light to dark green trifoliate leaves that turn red, orange, or yellow during the fall. 

The leaflets (2-15cm long by 2-10cm wide) are alternately arranged in clusters on the vine and have a glossy surface with an entire (sometimes slightly serrated) margin. 

The plant also produces inconspicuous, small, yellow-green clustered flowers with five petals. The flowers later develop into green berries that turn greyish-white when ripe. 

It is native to:

• Asia
• USA
• Canada

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling, mowing, or cutting might be effective for small infestations. However, these methods increase the risk of coming into contact with the plant, which is highly toxic to the skin. 
• Natural control: It can be controlled through natural remedies like salt & dish soap solution, vinegar, and boiling water. 
• Chemical control: Herbicides such as glyphosate, Triclopyr, and 2,4-D are the best way to eradicate poison ivy. Stump herbicide treatment can also be very effective at eradicating large plant infestations.  

17. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) 

• Local Name: American pokeweed, common pokeweed
• Family: Phytolaccaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Pokeweed (common pokeweed, American pokeweed, pokeberry, pigeonberry weed, or inkberry) is an herbaceous plant growing to 1-3m tall. 

It has smooth, pinkish-red stems that are partially hollow and slightly rigid to flexible but not sturdy. 

It has alternate, lanceolate to ovate green leaves with a smooth surface and an entire margin. When mature, the leaves reach 41cm long and have a distinctive, unpleasant odor. 

Pokeweed has white to greenish (sometimes pink or purplish) flowers, bon in clusters along the stem. 

These flowers, which have sepals but no petals, mature and develop into purplish-black berries when ripe.  

It is native to:

• Asia
• North America 
• South America 

Removal Methods 

• Hand weeding: Hand pulling can be effective when dealing with young plants, especially when the soil is moist. You could also physically remove mature plants, but this would require digging out the entire root system, which can be too intensive. 
• Chemical control: Herbicides like 2,4-D, glyphosate, and dicamba effectively eradicate pokeweed infestations. 

NOTE: Phytolacca americana has a thick tap root system. Therefore, most natural (homemade) weed killers that only affect the foliage may not effectively control the plant. 

18. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) 

• Local Name: European stinging nettle, Great nettle 
• Family: Urticaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Stinging nettle (common nettle, burn nettle, nettle leaf, or stinger) is an herbaceous perennial plant that grows 0.9-2m tall. 

Its erect, four-angled, green stems are covered with stinging hairs that can cause skin irritation. 

The plant has soft, green leaves about 1-6cm long by 1-4cm wide, arranged oppositely on the stem. 

The leaves are egg-shaped with a wide base, pointed top, coarsely toothed margins, and covered with stinging hairs (like the stem). 

The stinging nettle has small, inconspicuous, green to yellow flowers forming clusters in the leaf axils on the upper stem. The plant also bears egg-shaped tan achene fruits, each enclosing a single seed. 

It is native to:

• Europe 
• North America
• Parts of Asia
• North Africa 

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: You can hand-pull young stinging nettle plants, carefully protecting your skin from the spiky hairs. Repeated mowing or cutting down of the plant can retard its growth and eventually overwhelm the plant. 
• Chemical control: You can remove large infestations with herbicides like glyphosate, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, and isoxaben. However, several treatments might be needed to completely eradicate the weeds. 

NOTE: Stinging nettle has an aggressive rhizomatous root system. Therefore, digging, cultivating, and tillage are not recommended removal methods as they can disturb the soil and cut up and spread the rhizomes, leading to new plant germination.  

19. Wild Mustard (Sinapis arvensis) 

• Local Name: Corn mustard
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Wild mustard (corn mustard, field mustard, or charlock mustard) is an annual herb in the mustard family that grows to 20-80cm tall (although it can sometimes exceed one meter). 

Its erect, reddish, branching stems are covered in coarse hairs. 

Sinapis arvensis has medium green leaves (4-18cm long and 2-5cm wide) that initially develop from a basal rosette. 

The plant produces bright yellow flowers (typical of mustards), which bloom in clusters at the top of the stems. 

The flowers have four petals, spreading sepals (bracts), and are edible (with a flavor similar to that of radish or cabbage when cooked). 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Temperate regions of Asia
• Northern Africa

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and digging out the plant are effective non-herbicide control options when dealing with young plants (before seeding) and small infestations. 
• Chemical control: For mature and large patches of wild mustard, spraying with herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, glyphosate, paraquat, MCPA, and mesotrione can help eradicate the weed. 

20. Mock Strawberry (Potentilla indica) 

• Local Name: Mock strawberry, Indian strawberry 
• Family: Rosaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Mock strawberry (Indian strawberry, false strawberry, or backyard strawberry) is a low-growing shrub that grows 6-7cm tall. 

It has creeping runners (more than 30cm long) that spread along the ground, producing new shoots at each node. 

The plant has dark evergreen trifoliate leaves, alternately arranged and attached to the stems by short stalks. 

Each leaflet is about 2-4.5cm long, elliptical in shape, roughly veined on the undersurface, and with a toothed margin. 

Mock strawberries have solitary yellow flowers with five obovate petals, five green bracts, and numerous yellow stamens. 

The plant also produces fleshy-looking, bright red fruit resembling a true strawberry. The fruit is edible, but many consider it dry and lacking the sweet flavor of true strawberries.  

Potentilla indica is native to Asia in the following areas: 

• India
• Bhutan
• Nepal
• Afghanistan
• China
• Pakistan
• Thailand 
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• Indonesia 
• Taiwan
• Laos
• Korea

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical control: You can eradicate mock strawberries by hand weeding them. Hand-pulling is easier when the soil is moist, but you can also use a digging tool. 
• Natural control: Natural weed remedies like vinegar, boiling water, cornmeal, and baking soda can effectively eradicate mock strawberries. 
• Chemical control: Selective, post-emergent herbicides like Mecoprop, dicamba, Triclopyr, and 2,4-D are very effective at eradicating infestations. 
• Cultural control: Practices like mulching, regular mowing, proper fertilization, soil PH management, improving drainage, and healthy lawn management can curtail the spread (or prevent encroachment) of Potentilla indica.  

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post 20 Common Weeds in Alabama and Ways To Get Rid of Them appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Such weeds can complete seed production immediately after flowering. As a result, they can destroy good crops like sugar beets, soybeans, and other vegetables.

Properly managing fast-growing weeds is important to prevent them from spreading and competing with desired plants. 

But what are the examples of fastest-growing weeds, and how can you remove them?

1. Bindweed

Bindweed is a genus of over 200 species of flowering plants identified by their thin thread-like vines. It is native to Europe but is now naturalized worldwide.

The perennial weed spreads from an extensive rootstock and seed. It can be noxious to other plants because the vines wrap themselves tightly to plants. However, the plant reproduces from roots, rhizomes, and stem fragments.

Bindweed can grow fast because the seeds can lie dormant in the soil for many years. Therefore, the best way of removing it is through repeated applications of a pre-emergent herbicide or hoeing.

2. Crabgrass

Crabgrass is an invasive warm-season grass that reproduces by seeds. It also has a prolific branching habit, with a single plant producing hundreds of tillers and seeds.

Crabgrass is an annual weed found in almost every landscape or turf. It is native to Europe or Eurasia and is distributed worldwide.

Crabgrass can be annoying because it thrives well in lawns. You can identify it by its coarse-textured, yellowish-green colour.

You can eliminate crabgrass by applying a granular, selective, pre-emergent herbicide. Alternatively, prune or pull the plant whenever it appears using specialized tools.

3. Dandelion

The Dandelion is one of the worst invasive weeds. The perennial plant is native to Eurasia but widespread throughout North America.

You can identify the weed by its deeply lobed leaves and composite flower heads with bright yellow flowers. Dandelions grow fast because one plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds.

Once dandelions invade your garden or lawn, kill them by digging the weeds by the roots because of their taproot system. Alternatively, you can spray them with a herbicide.

However, if you’ve only spotted a few, simply remove them using dandelion removal tools.

4. Chickweed

Chickweed is a cold-season annual plant recognisable by the line of hairs down its stem. The plant is native to Europe and naturalized worldwide.

Chickweed is one of the weeds that grow tall. The weed can grow up to 18 inches. However, its stem usually sprawls across the ground.

Chickweed thrives in cool, moist, and shaded areas. You will often find it in cultivated fields, pastures, gardens, shady lawns, roadsides, and plantation crops.

You can manage chickweed by hand-pulling or hoeing the plant before it sets seed. Mulching can also prevent its seeds from germinating.

5. Clover

Clover is a genus of over 200 plants native to Europe. The perennial weed has rhizomatous stems that grow up to 30 cm long and have a three-leaf structure.

Clover grows easily in moist fields. Since it is a plant in the legume family, clover naturally fixes nitrogen in the soil. That gives it the property of growing faster in the right conditions.

You can get rid of clover by treating it with a herbicide. Alternatively, consider hand-pulling, hoeing, or mulching to prevent seed germination.

6. Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie is an aromatic, perennial, evergreen weed of the mint family native to Europe. It is also among the worst weeds in the world because it spreads by seeds that can disperse to many areas.

Creeping Charlie gets its name because it has creeping stems or stolons. The plant grows well in moist, shady spots, including under shrubs and trees.

The best way of controlling Creeping Charlie is by mowing the affected area regularly at a height of about three inches. 

Fertilising, overseeding in the fall, and watering the lawn well are other methods of eliminating the plant.

7. Fat hen

Fat hen is among the annoying weeds that grow fast from seeds. The annual plant, native to Europe, grows between 0.2 and 2 metres tall and has matt green, diamond-shaped leaves and white flowers.

Fat hen grows quickly around the open ground, competing with other weeds and plants for nutrients. Also, the weed can out-compete re-seeded areas of grass.

Tackle Fat hen early or immediately once you notice it growing in your garden or lawn. However, other techniques you can use include hoeing to remove young seedlings and pulling by hand before it sets seed.

8. Ground Ivy

Ground Ivy is a perennial scrambling herbaceous plant native to Eurasia. It is also a low-growing, creeping weed that spreads by seed and stolons that root at the nodes.

You can identify Ground Ivy with its opposite, heart-shaped, scalloped leaves and square stems. It mostly grows in moist areas like floodplains, low woods, and disturbed sites.

Ground Ivy is a vigorous grower that spreads across the ground, forming dense patches that push out native plants. Therefore, the best removal methods include herbicide application, hand-pulling, or raking.

9. Henbit

Henbit is an annual or biennial weed native to Europe and Asia and is a member of the mint family. The plant commonly grows in waste areas, landscapes, and no-till fields.

You can identify Henbit by its greenish to purplish, tender stems. Although its stems grow upright, they can also root at the lower nodes.

Henbit has a shallow taproot that becomes branched. Because of the taproot system, removal methods include hand-pulling or hoeing the plant to remove all root fragments. 

Also, a pre-emergent herbicide applied in the fall can prevent henbit from germinating.

10. Japanese knotweed

Japanese knotweed is one of the many invasive garden weeds. It is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Japan, North China, Taiwan, and Korea.

Japanese knotweed can grow up to ten feet tall. It has hollow, bamboo-like stems with purple speckles, and its leaves are large, heart-shaped, and pointed at the tip.

Japanese knotweed can grow up to ten centimetres a day during the summer and overwhelm other plants. 

Therefore, remove it by digging up the entire plant and its extensive root system or applying a selective herbicide to kill it.

There are several other organic ways of removing Japanese Knotweed.

11. Johnson grass

Johnson grass is an annoying perennial grass weed. It is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Africa.

Johnson grass grows to a height of eight feet. It has wide leaves with thickened whitish midribs.

The weed mainly grows in fertile soils. It is invasive and can reduce corn, grain, soybean, cotton, and leguminous forage yields.

You can control Johnson grass by digging up its roots. Alternatively, use a glyphosate-based herbicide to prevent the plant from germinating.

12. Kudzu

Kudzu is a semi-woody, trailing or climbing perennial vine. It is one of the worst and fastest-growing invasive vine weeds native to Asia.

Kudzu has large, trifoliate leaves, each with three leaflets. The weed can grow up to 0.3 meters per day in early summer and up to 18 meters during the growing season.

Also, Kudzu can grow in nearly any type of soil. Therefore, the best removal methods include chemical control, where you repeatedly apply a herbicide. Hoeing can also help remove the entire root system.

 13. Morning glory

Morning glory is a fast-growing flowering vine native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. It thrives well in warm, sunny spots.

Morning glory produces large, heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in various colours, including blue, red, purple, or pink.

Because of its fast-growing properties, Morning glory requires a combination of physical and chemical management to eliminate it. 

In other words, use a hoe to remove its roots or pull the weed by hand. Alternatively, apply a pre-emergent herbicide to kill the plant.

14. Nutsedge

Nutsedge is a perennial weed native to many parts of the world. It grows actively during the frost-free season with stiffer and thicker leaves.

The plant also has a triangular stem in cross-section. During its growth cycle, Nutsedge reproduces by seed and underground tubers. These can remain dormant in the ground for several years.

Thus, chemical application is the best way of removing Nutsedge. Alternatively, you can dig out the plant to remove all its root fragments. 

Reducing soil moisture and fertility can also help reduce the weed populations in your garden.

15. Oxalis

Oxalis is a cool-season perennial weed native to North America but naturalized in the central United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Japan, and New Zealand. 

It is an erect and readily branching weed that often forms dense mats from rhizomes.

Oxalis has leaves divided into three to ten leaflets. All the leaflets arise from a single point on the plant. It also has solitary flowers with five petals.

Oxalis forms adventitious roots when growing. Therefore, you can get rid of the weed by hand-pulling or hoeing. 

But to prevent its seeds from spreading, remove the plant while young and developing before the flowers and seed capsules form.

16. Pigweed

Pigweed is also known as amaranth. It is an edible weed in most parts of the world, especially in Africa. However, the plant is native to North and South America.

Pigweed is a summer annual weed that also acts as a perennial weed. It has oval to diamond-shaped leaves, which alternate on the stem. The plant also produces green, red, or purple flower clusters.

Pigweed is easy to hand pull. You can also use a hoe to remove the weeds from your garden. But as one of the annual weeds, a pre-emergent herbicide will kill it and prevent its future regrowth.

17. Poison ivy

Poison ivy is a woody perennial plant native to North America. It usually grows as a low, spreading shrub with fine stems. In other cases, it grows as an upright, three-foot-tall shrub or a woody vine.

Poison ivy has compound leaves with three glossy and smooth-edged leaflets. The plant also produces small, greenish-white flowers in the spring and white berries in the fall.

You can remove Poison ivy from your garden through hoeing to remove the entire root system. However, the permanent method involves the application of a herbicide.

18. Purslane

Purslane is a summer annual broadleaf weed native to North Africa, the Middle East, and India. It grows rapidly in spring and summer and is an important agricultural weed in some parts of the world.

Purslane has succulent leaves and stems. However, its stems are smooth and reddish and originate from a single taproot.

Although Purslane is an edible plant, it is a weed in many areas. And since it has a taproot system, you can remove it through hand pulling or hoeing.

19. Ragweed

Ragweed is an annual and sometimes perennial weed native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It usually grows a few centimetres tall but can exceed four metres.  

Ragweed has erect, decumbent, or prostrate stems that grow from rhizomes. It has alternately arranged leaves and leaf blades that come in various shapes.

Weed and feed fertilisers are best to control Ragweed in established and actively growing lawns. However, proper management requires the removal of Ragweed before the plant reaches its seed-producing stages.

20. Thistle

Thistle is a name given to a group of plants in the Asteraceae family. These plants are characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins.

Thistles can be annual or perennial plants. These weeds are native to North America, Europe, and Asia.

Thistles grow to a few centimetres tall or exceed five feet tall with dark to light purple flower heads. You can remove them using a stand-up weeding tool to uproot the individual plants.

Have your say?

What challenges have you faced with invasive garden weeds?

Carla Etheridge

Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.

The post 20 fastest-growing weeds and their removal methods appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Weeds are everyone’s nightmare; some are highly invasive and can easily overwhelm other crops or grass.

Unfortunately, most of them are also pretty hard to eliminate and can keep coming back.

However, if you know what weeds you are dealing with, you can have an easier time getting rid of them.

You must identify the weeds to know the best eradication technique to use. One of the easiest ways to identify weeds is by photo and other characteristics that stand out.

These are the 10 most common weeds with white flowers and how you can identify and get rid of them:

1. White clover

White clover is the most common among lawn weeds that have white flowers. It is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Central Asia, Europe, and the British Isles.

However, it can also be found in several parts of the world, including North America.

White clover has trifoliate (three oval-shaped) leaves and distinctive white (sometimes pink) flowers that form a cluster-like arrangement.

It is also a creeping plant, which uses stolons to spread, forming a mat-like coverage on the ground. White clover is aggressive and can be hard to eradicate when it takes hold.

However, there are a few techniques you can use. The first one is to pull it by hand or with digging tools. You can also use homemade weed killers such as vinegar and dish soap.

Lastly, you can use selective herbicides, for example, those containing dicamba, quinclorac, clopyralid, and fluroxypyr.

2. Bindweed

Bindweed is a perennial field weed native to Europe but also very common throughout North America. It is a climbing weed with thin, thread-like vines that grow around plants and other erect objects.

It has arrowhead-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped white (sometimes pink) flowers. Bindweed is hard to eliminate due to its large and resilient root system.

Therefore, pulling it by hand might not work. Instead, you should use organic methods such as vinegar, dish soap solutions, and boiling water.

You can also use chemical herbicides such as glyphosate and dicamba.

3. Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering weed plant native to North America, Asia, and Europe. It is a common sight around fence rows, open forests, meadows, lawns, gardens, and yards.

Yarrow has trifoliate leaves with a smooth surface and an egg-like shape. It is a herbaceous plant with stems that function as stolons.

You can also identify the plant by its little white flowers in the grass, which form a cluster arrangement and rise above the leaves.

Yarrow is a resilient plant that is hard to eliminate. However, you can kill it using selective herbicides such as triclopyr or dicamba.

You can also use non-selective weed killers such as glyphosate, but at the risk of killing other plants.

4. White nettle

White nettle (also known as white dead nettle) is a flowering plant native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

However, it is now found worldwide, including in North America. It commonly grows on roadsides, waste areas, woodlands, and even gardens with fertile soils.

White nettle is a tall-growing weed plant with green, four-angled stems. It produces broad, triangular-shaped leaves with soft hairs, serrated margins, and a rounded base. It also produces white flowers on the upper part of the stem.

There are two effective techniques for getting rid of white nettle. The first one is homemade remedies such as vinegar, boiling water, dishwasher soap, etc.

The second is to use systemic herbicides such as glyphosate, which can target and kill the entire plant.

5. Black nightshade

Black nightshade is a flowering weed plant, which is native to Europe, parts of Africa, North and South America, Asia, and Australian regions.

The plant usually grows in dump areas, under tree shades, in woody areas, near quarries, and old ruins. However, it can also be found in gardens, either as a cultivated plant or having invaded the fertile soil.

Black nightshade is a perennial shrub that can grow up to more than a meter high. It has broad, heart-shaped leaves, which can have a wavy or toothed margin.

The leaves are hairy on both the upper and bottom surfaces. The plant also produces small white flowers with yellow anthers and green berries that turn dark when they ripen.

You can eliminate black nightshade using mechanical weed control methods such as pulling by hand (or digging tools) or mowing.

However, chemical herbicides such as glyphosate will be effective if dealing with a persistent infestation.

6. Daisy weeds

Daisy weeds are flowering plants native to Europe and Asian regions but have spread worldwide, including the Americas and Australia.

They are among the most common lawns and grass weeds in various areas, from neglected grasses to properly managed lawn turfs.

Daisy weeds have spoon-shaped, dark green leaves with a smooth surface. However, their most unique feature is their flowers – the plant produces solitary flowers with yellow inner florets.

While daisies are considered flowers by most people, they are pretty aggressive and can spread easily through their rhizome root system.

However, you can control them using various techniques. For example, pulling by hand or digging tools is effective when you have a few plants.

You can also use selective herbicides such as 2,4-D, dicamba, or triclopyr when dealing with a large infestation.

7. Dandelions

Dandelions are another common weed found in lawns, gardens, fields, forests, wastelands, etc. It is native to Europe and Asia but widespread in other regions such as North America.

The plant is easily identifiable by its basal rosette leaves, which have widely spaced teethed edges. It also produces white or yellow blooms, which grow on a single, hollow stem.

You can eliminate dandelion weeds by mowing your lawn during the flowering stage. Frequent pulling by hands or special tools can also eliminate small infestations.

However, chemical herbicides are more effective when dealing with a huge invasion of dandelions. These include pre and post-emergent herbicides and selective lawn weed killers.

8. Common chickweed

Common chickweed is a low-spreading perennial weed plant native to Europe but widespread in most regions. It primarily grows in fields, gardens, nurseries, lawns, and turf grass.

While low-spreading, common chickweed has erect stems with leaves growing opposite to each other along the stem.

The leaves are broad and egg-shaped, with pointy tips. The weed also produces showy, white flowers with five deeply cut petals at the end of each stem.

Common chickweed has shallow roots and thus can be eliminated by pulling or digging with a shovel or other tools.

However, chemical herbicides such as selective weed killers for lawns are ideal when dealing with several weeds. You can also spot-treat with non-selective herbicides, which risk killing other plants.

9. Thorn apple

Thorn apple, also known as Datura stramonium or jimsonweed, is another weed with white flowers. It is also one of the most popular weeds with thorns.

The weed is native to Central America but has spread over several regions. It commonly grows in disturbed soils, river banks, agricultural fields, and gardens.

Thorn apple has thick erect stems, which branch off repeatedly from where leaves and flowers grow.

The leaves are large, have a smooth surface, and a toothed margin. The plant blooms trumpet-shaped white flowers that have a pleasant odor.

It also has conspicuous green, egg-shaped seed capsules covered with spikes – hence the name thorn apple.

You can eliminate thorn apples by pulling or digging out the entire plant. If you decide to pull, make sure to use proper gardening gloves to protect you from its thorns.

However, you should dispose of it entirely by burning or burying it in plastic wrap if it has produced seeds.

Use broad-spectrum chemical herbicides to kill the plant, but take care not to spray other crops.

10. Henbit weed

Henbit weed is another popular type of weed those blooms white (sometimes purple) flowers. It is common in Europe, South America, North America, Asian regions, and Australia.

You can find it growing in lawns, gardens, waste areas, crop fields, roadsides, pastures, etc. Henbit weed has a square-shaped stem, from where scalloped, heart-shaped leaves emerge.

The lower leaves grow from the stem in a petal formation, while the upper leaves are directly attached. Flowers (white or purplish) are grown at the top of each branch.

You can eradicate henbit weed using natural remedies such as pulling by hand or applying vinegar, corn gluten meal, and dish soap solution.

You can also use chemical herbicides such as selective lawn herbicides, for example, roundup for lawns.

Conclusion

Are you dealing with unidentified weeds with white flowers on your lawn, garden, crop field, or property?

The above are some of the most common weeds that have white flowers. Included is information on where they are likely to grow, identifying features, and effective solutions you can use to eradicate them.

Related Guides

• Common weeds with pink flowers
• Weeds that look like small trees
• Is bamboo the tallest grass?
• Types of weeds with burrs
• List of common weeds with scientific names

Carla Etheridge

Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.

The post 10 common weeds with white flowers appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Unfortunately, weed identification, especially when dealing with broadleaf weeds, is not easy. There are several invasive species, and some are very easy to confuse with others.

But worry not! Here is a list of the most common types of broadleaf weeds with their scientific names. It covers the essential information you need to identify different broadleaf weeds.

What are broadleaf weeds?

It is essential to look at broadleaf weed’s definition before looking at the various types of these invasive plants.

Broadleaf weeds are invasive plants with broad leaves that usually grow from a stem. The leaves typically have a central vein at the center, with other small veins that branch out.

These weeds are also very conspicuous and stick out. Therefore, you can identify broadleaf weeds by photo comparison with ease.

20 most common broadleaf weeds

These are some of the most common broadleaf weeds that you might come across in your yard.

1. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Are chickweeds broadleaf weeds? Yes, they are. They are an annual and perennial flowering plant native to the European region. However, they have spread and adapted to various areas worldwide.

Chickweeds are low-growing plants with hairy stems. They have broad, long and oval-shaped leaves pointed at the tip. They also produce small, white, star-shaped flowers.

Chickweeds are a beneficial weed plant due to their several health (herbal) benefits. However, they are an invasive species, easily proliferating moist and fertile soils. A single chickweed plant can produce several thousand seeds, making them a nightmare to kill.

2. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

White clover is a perennial broadleaf invasive plant native to Europe and Central Asia. However, it can be found worldwide and is common in the North American region.

White clover has broad, ovate, and dull green leaves with white markings (sometimes can be red). The plant is trifoliate – has compound leaves with three leaflets. It has white flowers, which appear in groupings of smaller flowers.

3. Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Wild Geranium is a perennial plant native in the North American region. It is considered by many people to be a wildflower – and is cultivated for its aesthetic and medicinal properties. However, it is a fast-spreading plant that proliferates through the use of rhizomes.

Wild Geranium has conspicuous basal leaves that have about three to seven lobes. The leaves grow from long stalks – about 12 to 28 inches tall.

Another distinct feature of the plant is the attractive purple leaves, which have five rounded petals. Therefore, you can easily identify the wild Geranium in your property by comparing it with other broadleaf weed pictures.

4. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Milkweed is a perennial plant that is native to the North American region. It is considered by some to be a wildflower but is an invasive plant spreading aggressively through seeds and rhizomes.

Milkweed has leaves, which are wide, thick, and long (about 10 to 20 cm) and grow in opposite pairs. They have a smooth surface on the top and fine hairs at the bottom. It also has pink (sometimes white) flowers that form a spherical cluster.

5. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Bull Thistle is a biennial weed plant that is native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. It has dark green, oval-shaped leaves that are broad at the apex with spines at the edges. As the plant matures, the leaves become deeply lobed and the spines more pronounced.

Aside from leaves, the bull thistle has distinct pink to purple flowers. They protrude out of a gumdrop-shaped flower head, with spines that extend all around.

6. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion is a perennial broadleaf weed that grows in sunny regions of Northern America, Europe, Australia, and several other regions. It grows from taproots, which produce several stems with short hairs. It has basal leaves – growing from the stem, close to the ground.

The dandelion plant’s most conspicuous feature is its yellow blooms. The flowers grow on hollow stems, with the seed head having a puffball-like appearance.

7. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

Ground Ivy is an aggressive perennial weed that is pretty difficult to control. It goes by several other names, the most popular one being creeping Charlie.

Ground Ivy, like the name suggests, grows close to the ground and spreads by creeping. It has round kidney-shaped leaves that are bright green and have scallops at the edges.

Another way to easily identify the plant is by its purple (or blueish) funnel-shaped flowers that sprout along the stems.

8. Chicory

Chicory is a biennial, but primarily perennial broadleaf weed that propagates by seeds. It has a distinctive basal rosette, from where winged branches and sparsely spaced leaves grow.

Chicory leaves are rough and hairy on both upper and lower surfaces and are similar to those of dandelions. When blooming, the plant has conspicuous, bright blue flower heads that grow on tall stems (up to three feet).

9. Curly dock (Rumex crispus)

Curly dock is a perennial broadleaf weed. You can usually find it on low-maintenance fields, pastures, nurseries, and orchards. It is also a common sight on roadsides. It usually grows in the Northern America region – all over the U.S and Southern Canada.

The curly dock can be identified by its shiny, green leaves, which transform into a reddish-purple color as the plant matures. The leaves grow from the bottom of the stem, in a rosette pattern.

They are oblong-shaped and have wavy margins. When flowering, the plant produces elongated stems, with yellow (or reddish-brown petals).

10. Prostrate spurge (Euphorbia supine)

Prostrate spurge is an annual broadleaf weed that is a common sight in the summer. It is an aggressive, fast-growing plant, that grows in poor soils, poorly maintained turf grass, driveways, sidewalks, etc.

Prostrate spurge has red, low-growing stems that form a mat-like appearance. Its leaves are dark green in color, and sport red spots at the center. When flowering, the plant produces small and pink flowers. The stem also has a milky, white sap, that can cause skin irritation.

11. Wild violets (Viola papilionacea)

Wild violet is a perennial wildflower that is native to the eastern regions of North America. It is a beautiful violet flower, that produces dainty petals in spring. However, it is also an aggressively growing weed that proliferates lawns and yards and is hard to eradicate.

The wildflower can grow in any area, even tolerating droughty conditions. However, it prefers moist, fertile soils. It can be easily identified by its heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, and large blue to purple flowers.

12. Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

Bittersweet nightshade is a semi-woody, perennial vine that is native to Europe and Asia. However, it has spread and become natural in almost every region, including North America.

It is an aggressive weed plant, which is a common sight in less maintained gardens and lawns. It can also grow on landscapes, along fence rows, streams, and wetlands.

Bitter nightshade has arrow-shaped leaves, which are usually lobed at the base. They are dark green in color but can sport purple tinges.

It produces star-shaped flowers with a yellow stamen protruding from the center. It also produces green berries, that turn bright red when they ripen.

13. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

Common ragweed is one of the most commonly occurring broadleaf weeds in the Americas region. It can be found on lawns, gardens, agricultural fields, and waste areas. It is an annual crop that sprouts in the summer and is popular for its pollen that causes serious allergic reactions.

You can identify common ragweed by its dark-green, thick, hairy leaves that look like a spatula as the plant emerges. Over time, they progress into a fern-like shape, with the hairiness becoming more pronounced.

Common ragweed grows tall and upright and blooms by producing green to yellow, streamer-like flowers. At the top of the stem are the male flowers, which produce pollen.

14. Dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium)

Dog fennel is one of the most common broadleaf grass weeds that affect lawns. Also known as summer cedar, it primarily grows in poorly maintained turf, lawns, golf courses, or playfields.

Dog fennel is a tall-growing plant that can reach up to three feet. It has soft and week stems, which become hard and woody as the plant matures.

It is easily identified by its hairy stem and oval-shaped, hairless, and finely dissected leaves. The weed produces small white flowers, which look a lot like daisies.

15. Common yellow oxalis (Oxalis stricta)

Common yellow oxalis is an invasive weed plant found in the North American region. It primarily infests cultivated gardens, but can also be found on roadsides and waste areas.

Common yellow oxalis has long petioles, from where three heart-shaped leaflets grow from. It also produces conspicuous yellow flowers with five clustered petals.

16. Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover is a herbaceous flowering plant that is native to Europe, Africa, and Western Asia. However, it has naturalized to many regions and is a common sight in North America.

Red clover has dark green leaves that sprout as three leaflets from long-growing leaflets. The plant is very similar to white clover, with a few differences such as pink to red flowers. It also grows vertical and tall, while the white clover weed grows short and spreads horizontally.

Both red and white clover plants are used as forage due to their legume fruits. However, they are fast-growing and spread easily through seeds and rhizomes. As such, if not closely monitored, they tend to become invasive; driving out other native vegetation.

We have created a guide to help you eliminate white clover from your yard.

17. Fireweed (Erechtites hieraciifolia)

Fireweed, also called American Burnweed, is an annual broadleaf weed that sprouts in the summer. It is a robust growing plant with long stems that can either be hairy or smooth.

Fireweed produces bright-green leaves that are narrow and pointed at the base and tips. However, their most distinctive feature is the pink to purple flowers with four petals – similar to those of the evening primrose.

18. False dandelion (Hypochoeris radicata)

False dandelion, also known as Carolina False Dandelion or Leafy Stem Dandelion is a perennial broadleaf weed. It is native to the European region but has spread to the Americas, Asia, and Oceania region.

False dandelion primarily grows in lawns and paddocks. It is very similar to the dandelion plant (Taraxacum officinale) but has several differences – hence why the name.

Both false and true dandelions have similar bright green, leaves that are serrated along the edges. However, the former’s flowers are hairy and have rounded lobes, while true dandelions are smooth and pointed.

The flowers are also similar – bright yellow and growing at the end of the stems. However, false dandelion flowers grow high above the rosette leaves.

19. Horseweed (Conyza Canadensis)

Horseweed is a common broadleaf weed that primarily grows in agricultural areas in the North and Central Americas. It is a native plant to the region but is considered a weed due to its high proliferation.

Horseweed produces several small seeds, that are scattered wide and far by the wind. It is also very tough, and can even be resistant to strong herbicides such as Glyphosate.

You can identify horseweed by its elongated and pointed leaves with serrated edges. They grow in a rosette arrangement at the base of the stem, then alternately along its length. The stem is also tall and upright-growing and can reach high heights of up to five feet.

20. Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus)

Pigweed is a broadleaf plant that sprouts in the summer. It is known by several names, such as Amaranth Pigweed, Careless Weed, or Green Amaranth.

It is a species of the Amaranthus family of plants, which are cultivated in several regions around the world as leafy vegetables. Despite being edible, pigweed is an aggressively growing plant.

It invades crop fields, gardens, lawns, and spreads very fast by producing thousands of seeds. The seeds are also very tough. They can survive for a few decades and still sprout when the right conditions occur.

You can identify pigweed by its stems and leaves. The stem grows upright and tall, from where the leaves branch freely. The bottom part is smooth but becomes hairy at the top.

The leaves are oval-shaped and pointed at the tips. They are shiny and dark green with a smooth top and hairy bottom.

Summary

Do you have a broadleaf weed problem? With several types of these weed species – some very similar – proper identification is a crucial step towards identification.

The above are some of the most common types of broadleaf weeds that you are likely to encounter.

Some of the weeds are conspicuous and easy to identify. On the other hand, some are harder to identify, and can even look like other plants.

However, by closely looking at their features, you can be able to distinguish them and choose the right control solution.

Related Guides

• List of beneficial weeds and their uses
• The most common weeds and their scientific names with pictures
• The different types of sticker weeds
• List of lawn weeds in Virginia
• Types of leaves and their botanical names

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post Broadleaf weeds identification: common types with images appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Also, some weeds act as food sources. You can eat their stems, leaves, and flowers, either cooked or raw.

Although weeds can be useful to your garden, avoid planting them in your garden purposely. With a few exceptions, many can grow together with your vegetables without causing any harm.

The following is a list of ten useful weeds and their uses.

1. Bashful Mimosa

Bashful mimosa, also known as touch-me-not or sleepy plant, is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant.

It grows on soils that have low nutrient concentrations. That means when it sprouts in your garden, you need to test your soil to determine the nutrients that it lacks.

Furthermore, when growing in an area, it changes the physicochemical properties of the soil. As a result, it increases the value of nitrogen and potassium in the garden.

As one of the many beneficial weeds on a small farm, it provides ground cover for vegetables like peppers and tomatoes.

2. Broadleaf Plantain

Broadleaf plantains grow almost anywhere. You will find them in cracks in sidewalks, roadsides, and meadows.

When they grow on garden beds and lawns, they will accumulate several minerals that are beneficial to your vegetables. These include magnesium, iron, sulfur, calcium, and silicon.

When broadleaf plantain grows in your garden, it will enrich the soil and attract beneficial soil organisms.

It is also one of the many weeds with medicinal qualities. It helps to improve digestion, enhance wound healing, and lower inflammation.

3. Chickweed

Chickweed grows in distributed soils and tilled areas. Whenever it sprouts on your farm, it indicates low fertility in that space.

One of the benefits of the plant is that it can help to accumulate phosphorous and potassium, which are essential for strong rooting and vegetative growth.

Furthermore, it tends to attract insects or pollinators that are searching for nectar. Apart from benefiting your garden, chickweed is one of the many edible weeds found in gardens.

You can eat its flowers and leaves either raw or cooked.

4. Clover

The clover is a small annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial herbaceous plant. It grows freely in garden vegetables and tends to shoot up even after repeated mowing. Clovers are beneficial weeds because their flowers attract pollinators.

Clovers are legumes that host a lot of bacteria. The bacteria fix nitrogen in the soil and help to fertilize nearby plants.

Furthermore, it provides ground cover for plants like broccoli and cabbages, thus allowing them to retain water in the soil.

5. Dandelion

Many people consider the common dandelion an annoying weed. However, it is one of the most useful weeds that can grow in your vegetable garden.

The dandelion is the most visited plant by pollinators. It helps to restore the mineral content of the soil.

The plant can also create drainage pathways in compact soils, both of which are essential for a healthy garden.

Dandelions have a taproot system. It helps to break up hard soil and goes deep into the ground to bring up nutrients that many garden plants cannot reach.

6. Mugwort

Mugwort is one of the most challenging weeds to eradicate when it invades your lawn or vegetable garden.

But despite its undesirability, it has many applications and benefits on your small home farm. The plant helps to absorb heavy metals such as iron from the soil.

It prevents soil erosion, thus allowing your vegetables to hold onto the soil and grow well. At the same time, it helps to nourish the soil that lacks nutrients.

Mugwort is also a medicinal plant. Traditionally, people have used it to treat stomach and intestinal problems such as gas, constipation, and diarrhea.

7. Pennycress

Pennycress is an annual flowering plant that grows to a height of 60 centimeters with upright branches. It is one of the beneficial weeds for home gardens because you can use it as part of comprehensive weed management.

In other words, it can provide ground cover and suppress aggressive spring-germinating weeds like the giant ragweed.

Furthermore, the plant grows well in soils that have a lot of metallic minerals. Some of these metallic minerals include arsenic, lead, and nickel. When it sprouts, it will decrease the levels of these minerals in your garden.

8. Pigweed

Pigweed grows in farm fields where owners have already cultivated. Also, you will find them in gardens where gardeners use excessive chemical fertilizers.

The advantage of having them sprout in your vegetable garden is they help to improve the quality of the soil.

As one of the good weeds in your garden, it has deep roots, accumulating nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, manganese, potassium, and nitrogen.

Pigweeds also tend to loosen the soil. That is useful in providing a better footing for germinated roots and helps nutrients, water, and oxygen to reach the roots.

9. Starflower

Starflower or borage is a common weed that grows in gardens annually by self-seeding. It has edible leaves and is considered among weeds with medicinal uses.

The plant is rich in GLA (gamma-linoleic acid), which is essential in decreasing inflammation.

Borage also acts as a companion plant for various vegetables. It grows well with legumes, strawberries, squash, and tomatoes.

It will repel worms since it only attracts beneficial insects like bees and wasps. When it grows in your garden, it will increase resistance to pests and diseases.

10. Wormwood

Wormwood is a companion plant for your vegetable garden. It has a harsh taste and potent smell that repels insects, flies, moths, specific ground larvae, and pests. The weed will keep off nibbling animals like rabbits and deer.

Wormwood plant is useful in ornamental beds. But if you want to increase its pest-repellent properties for your vegetable garden, use it around carrots, onions, sage, rosemary, and leeks. However, uproot it immediately. It grows near fennels.

Conclusion

Not all weeds are bad for your garden. Some beneficial weeds can help to fertilize the soil, increase moisture, and repel pests. Also, some of these plants are edible, either raw or cooked. You can find many that have medicinal properties.

But despite their many positive uses, it is not recommended that you introduce weeds to your garden purposely. Instead, allow them to grow naturally next to your vegetables.

Related

• Botanical names of the most common medicinal plants

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post 10 beneficial weeds in a garden and their uses appeared first on InsightWeeds.