You can identify it by its square stems, shiny, dark-green, kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, and upright spikes bearing clusters of purple-blue flowers.

Creeping Charlie Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Spermatophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Lamiales
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Genus: Glechoma
• Species: Glechoma hederacea
• Varieties: Glechoma hederacea var. Micrantha and Glechoma hederacea var. parviflora
• Common Names: Field Balm, Runaway Robin, Cat’s Foot, Haymaids, and Alehoff

Nativity and Distribution

Ground Ivy is native to Europe and Asia. It has since been introduced and naturalized in many parts of the world, including North America, parts of South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Kidney-shaped to ovate cordate leaves with scalloped edges
• Fruits: Ovoid, flat, 2-sided nutlet
• Stems: Prostrate to slightly ascending square stems
• Flowers: Tubular blue-purple flowers 
• Roots: Fibrous root system 

G. hederacea is a perennial herb that has a creeping habit (hence the name Creeping Charlie), forming carpet-like mats. 

It is easily identifiable by its 4-sided stems, shiny, dark-green, kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, and upright spikes bearing clusters of purple-blue flowers.

Ground Ivy leaves are kidney-shaped to ovate cordate and heart-shaped at the base, with scalloped edges. The opposed leaves are smooth or stiff-haired, about 0.4-1.2 inches long, with petioles attaching the base of the leaf to the stem. Where the conditions are favorable, the leaves remain evergreen.

Stems are square and grow upwards about 4-16 inches tall. After flowering, the stems arch down and spread up to 30 feet horizontally. The vertical stems are thicker than the stolons and covered in stiff hairs or entirely smooth. 

The flowers of Creeping Charlie are tubular, blue-violet, 0.5-0.9 inches long, and occur in clusters of three to seven on the leaf axils. Flowering occurs in early to mid spring.

The seeds are ovoid, flattened, dark brown, about 0.12 inches in size.

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Seeds: Seed production varies with location
• Climate: Temperate climate
• Dispersal: Animals and humans

Ground Ivy behaves as a perennial and reproduces by seed and vegetatively by creeping stolons. Seed production varies with regions, with some plants producing large quantities of seeds, rarely, or none at all. 

While the seeds are typically viable, they are not particularly adapted to assist in their dispersal, and hence the unintentional movement of stolon fragments accounts for larger infestations in new areas.

The weed emerges in spring, flowers, and sets seeds throughout summer. After flowering, the slightly ascending stems bend to the ground and continue reproduction through rooting stolons.

The long, slender stolons form fibrous roots at the nodes, creating new stems and more stolon fragments. This clonal formation creates carpet-like mats that can cover large areas. 

In the colder autumn and winter months, the weed forms ramets that break away from the parent stolon to form overwintering fragments. 

While it prefers moist, fertile soils and shady areas, it can adapt to diverse conditions and environments.

Creeping Charlie is mostly found in riparian areas, prairies, wetlands, thickets, forest edges, roadsides, gardens, and lawns.

Similar Plants

• Lamium amplexicaule
• Lamium purpureum
• Malva neglecta

Uses

1. Ground Ivy is a popular ornamental plant for hanging baskets and as a groundcover. 
2. It was an important medicinal herb used to treat coughs, bronchitis, tinnitus, cataracts, and many other conditions.
3. The plant is a forage crop for mammals and insects and provides nesting material for birds like starlings.
4. Pre-bloom leaves are used to make tea, green salad, or cooked as a vegetable.

Impact on Farms and Environment

G. hederacea can invade gardens where smaller crops are growing, competing for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Its dense growth and creeping stems can also crowd out the desirable plants, leading to reduced crop yields and increased costs for weed management.

As a common weed in lawns, it can reduce the health and aesthetic appeal of the turf, especially since it’s hard to control without harming the grass.

In natural ecosystems, it has the potential to displace native vegetation by forming thick mats that shade out or kill them. A rapid invasion can reduce biodiversity and disrupt the balance of native plant communities.

Creeping Charlie is also reported to be toxic to livestock, especially horses, if ingested fresh or in hay. 

Control

• Mechanical control: Pulling or raking 
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides like isoxaben and herbicide mixtures like 2,4-D, MCCP, and dicamba. 

G. hederacea is difficult to control by mechanical strategies due to its rooting stolons. Methods like hand-pulling or raking can only prove effective if all the stolon fragments are removed. 

Chemical herbicides indicated for Ground Ivy removal include pre-emergence products, such as isoxaben. The best postemergence herbicide combinations for lawns and other areas include triclopyr and fluroxypyr, dicamba, 2,4-D, and MCPP. 

A mixture containing triclopyr, 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D ester, and fluroxypyr, or quinclorac, dicamba, 2,4-D, and sulfentrazone, applied in the fall, can achieve good control against the weed. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Glechoma hederacea (Creeping Charlie, Ground Ivy, Gill Over the Ground) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

These conditions, combined with nutrient-rich soils, provide the perfect environment for weeds to thrive. From agricultural fields to home gardens and roadsides, these weeds can spread rapidly, competing with crops and ornamental plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients.

Below is a list of the most common weeds in Iowa, complete with their scientific names, physical descriptions, and pictures.

1. Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

• Local Name: Common Lambsquarters
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Common Lambsquarters is an erect weed that grows 5-6 feet tall. It can be identified by its triangular to lanceolate leaves, wax-layered stems, and clusters of flowers on terminal panicles.

This annual plant is a prolific seed producer, an early germinator, and quick-growing, making it a serious weed of gardens, crop fields, roadsides, and other disturbed areas. 

Increased seeding rate, crop rotation, and growing of cover crops in fall are some of the cultural measures recommended to discourage weed growth. Well-timed tillage in crop fields before planting and cleaning of nearby areas can also prevent seed germination.

There are several groups of herbicides indicated for control depending on the infested area. Consult an extension expert for the best chemical strategy for your field or landscape.

2. Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

• Local Name: Velvetleaf, Elephant Ears, Buttonweed, or Butterprint
• Family: Malvaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Velvetleaf is a native of South Asia and was brought to North America as an alternative fiber crop. Since then, it has become a problematic weed in crop fields, costing farmers thousands of dollars in achieving effective control.

You can identify the plant by its heart-shaped leaves, about 4-8 inches wide. The leaves and stems are covered in short, soft hairs, giving them a velvety feel, hence the name. 

Velvetleaf is a noxious weed in Iowa crop fields but can also be found in ditches, disturbed areas, and roadsides.

Cover cropping, crop rotation, and tillage combined with herbicide applications have provided effective weed control in cash crop systems.

3. Smooth Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum)

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

Smooth crabgrass is a common weed in Iowa lawns. It emerges in spring, producing light green foliage and finger-like seedheads in late summer. 

Since this grass species can produce thousands of seeds, grow in poor soil and weather conditions, it is also a problematic weed in horticultural and agronomic settings, vegetable gardens, and other landscapes. 

Apply a preemergence herbicide like siduron, benefin, bensulide, pendimethalin, or dithiopyr to prevent crabgrass emergence. For existing infestations in different turfgrasses, apply postemergent herbicides including mesotrione, fenoxaprop, topramezone, and quinclorac for effective control.  

4. Pokeweed (Phytolaca americana)

• Local Name: Pokeweed or Common Pokeweed
• Family: Phytolaccaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Pokeweed is a large herbaceous weed that grows up to 9 feet tall. It can be easily identified by its red or purple stems, large, lanceolate to ovate leaves, and dark purple berries. 

In Iowa, the heavily branched plant is a common weed of landscapes, no-till fields, and waste areas. 

Dig out the plants from the roots or apply herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, and glyphosate, depending on the size of the infestation. 

5. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

• Local Name: Japanese Knotweed or Japanese Bamboo
• Family: Polygonaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Japanese Knotweed is an erect perennial that grows in dense patches, with the stems reaching heights of 6 feet. It is identified by its bamboo-like stems, ovate leaves, and white flowers borne in dense clusters on leaf axils. 

The weed was introduced as a garden ornamental but quickly became an invasive weed in crop fields, roadsides, streambanks, and other waste areas.

Remove the small colonies of the weeds as soon as you discover them. You can also utilize organic methods, make repeat cuttings during the growing season, or inject herbicides like imazapyr, 2,4-D amine, or glyphosate into stem cuttings to achieve weed dieback.

6. Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi)

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

Giant Foxtail is native to China and was first discovered in Iowa in 1949. It can grow up to four feet tall, producing leaves with short hairs, round upright stems, and a cylindrical seedhead that droops in maturity. 

This foxtail species is mostly found in turf, landscapes, and disturbed sites. It is also a particularly problematic weed in crop fields such as corn, soybean, and canola, and vegetable gardens. 

Moderate to heavy cover cropping and crop rotation provide the best weed reduction results. 

Several preemergence and postemergence herbicides are indicated for Giant Foxtail based on the crop or area of infestation. They include atrazine, quizaloxdasqfop, glyphosate, and quinclorac.

7. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

• Local Name: Poison Ivy
• Family: Anacardiacaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Poison Ivy is a native woody perennial that can grow as a shrub or a climbing plant on buildings, fences, and trees. You can easily identify it by its leaves, which have three shiny leaflets. 

The leaves are the most associated with allergic skin reactions. However, all its parts contain urushiol, the compound that causes dermatitis.

It reproduces by seeds and creeping roots and thrives in field borders and woodland edges. However, it is also found in ornamental landscapes, pastures, and noncrop lands. 

Removing Poison Ivy requires a systematic approach. First, make cuttings or clippings of the plants near the ground level and allow them to dry. 

Dig up the roots and mats from the ground and dispose of them properly. For the remaining roots, apply a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate or triclopyr for the best results.

8. Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

• Local Name: Field Bindweed or Creeping Jenny
• Family: Convovulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Field Bindweed is native to Europe and Asia. Today, it is widely found in the Northwestern parts of Iowa, invading low-maintenance turf, crop fields, fence lines, and other landscapes.

It is identified by its twining vines, lanceolate leaves, oppositely arranged on the stems, and white to pink, funnel-shaped flowers with two separate, tiny bracts. 

The weed also produces extensive underground rootstocks that can grow up to 20 feet deep, making it one of the most difficult-to-control weeds if left to establish.

Field Bindweed removal calls for an integrated management system. Remove small infestations by hand-pulling. Repeated deep tillage is viable to help deplete the weeds’ resources and prevent further spread. 

For persistent plants, herbicides like glyphosate, 2,4-D, quinclorac and others can suppress the weed in different settings.

9. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

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

Dandelion is a common weed in turf, pastures, and agricultural fields in Iowa. The broadleaf weed produces deeply toothed leaves that form a rosette about 1.5 feet wide and solitary flower heads with showy yellow flowers. 

Dandelion’s ability to thrive in a variety of conditions, efficiently produce and disperse seeds, and grow a deep taproot, makes it a routine weed to deal with every year. 

You can prevent further spread in residential lawns and home gardens by hand-pulling or using digging tools to remove the weeds when they are young. Ensure that the taproot is removed to prevent regrowth.

Spot spraying with herbicides like triclopyr, dicamba, glyphosate, or iron HEDTA can provide better control for larger infestations.

10. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)

• Local Name: Creeping Charlie or Ground Ivy
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

The creeping or prostrate perennial was initially introduced in North America as a salad green and medicinal herb. Today, it is one of the most common and problematic weeds in Iowa lawns.

It has rounded leaves with scalloped edges, square stems that root at the nodes, and tubular, blue to purple flowers. The weed propagates by seeds and creeping stems, aggressively spreading over large areas.

Maintaining a healthy turf is the best strategy to prevent a Creeping Charlie encroachment. For small patches, remove the weed by hand and repeat as required. Ensure that you remove the shoots and roots to prevent regrowth. A triclopyr application in the fall is effective for large patches.

11. Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)

• Local Name: Bush Honeysuckle
• Family: Caprifoliaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Bush Honeysuckle is an upright, woody perennial that grows 6-15 feet tall. It was introduced from Asia as an ornamental but has quickly become an invasive shrub in woodlands, roadsides, pastures, and abandoned fields. 

This honeysuckle species grows as a dense, multi-stemmed bush, crowding understory plants. It is also noted to have allelopathic properties that can hinder the growth of native plants.

Manual pulling is a viable option for small seedlings, while larger plants can be pulled out with strong weed wrenches. Glyphosate, picloram, 2,4-D, or triclopyr-amine can be applied on the foliage, cut stumps, or applied from an aerial view for the best results. 

12. Wild Violet (Viola sororia)

• Local Name: Wild Violet or Common Blue Violet
• Family: Violaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Common Blue Violet is among the common violets in the state. This specific species is mainly found in lawns and wooded areas. 

You can identify the weed by ovate to heart-shaped leaves, emerging from a basal crown, and showy, 5-petaled, blue to purple flowers.

Wild Violet reproduces by seeds and short rhizomes, forming dense colonies that can outcompete turf and other desirable plants.

Repeated hand removal is effective for small patches if all rhizomes and roots are removed. Maintaining a dense, healthy turf can discourage Wild Violet encroachment. 

Applications of herbicides like glyphosate, 2,4-D, or triclopyr can also provide effective control. However, repeat applications are necessary due to the leaf’s waxy surface. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Common Weeds in Iowa, Scientific Names, and Pictures appeared first on InsightWeeds.

These varying conditions encourage the growth of a variety of weeds, including persistent annuals and perennial grasses, that can be found in gardens, lawns, open areas, and disturbed sites. 

This post covers 20 common weeds you’ll come across in Ontario’s subregions, including their scientific names and accompanying pictures to aid in identification. We’ll also explain the best removal methods to ensure they don’t take over your outdoor spaces.

1. Lamb’s Quarter (Chenopodium berlandieri) 

• Local Name: White Goosefoot or Common Lambsquarter
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Lamb’s Quarter is a summer annual that grows up to 1.8 m. It is native to Europe and Asia, but it is widely spread in many parts of Ontario. The summer annual thrives in gardens and near streams and rivers. It is also a common weed in crop lands, including soybeans and sugar beets.

You can remove the weeds through hand weeding, mowing, tillage (dark tillage), or crop rotation, depending on the area of infestation.

2. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

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

White Clover is a perennial plant that lives about 2-3 years. It is native to Europe and Asia and can be identified by its trifoliate leaves and whitish florets. While it is widely grown as a forage crop in Ontario, it can also become a persistent weed in gardens and lawns. 

Hand weeding is a viable removal option in garden beds where infestations are small. When white clover grows on a lawn, it may require more strategic interventions, like increasing nitrogen fertilization to attain healthy and vigorous grass that can outcompete white clover.

3. Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

• Local Name: Creeping Thistle, Cursed Thistle, Field Thistle, or California Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Canada Thistle is a perennial weed that grows up to 1.5 m tall. You can easily identify it by its glossy green leaves with spiny edges, smooth, spineless stem, and small clusters of pink to purple flowers on the ends of the branched stems.

It is one of the most aggressive weeds in Ontario, and its rapid spread can make eradication efforts difficult. Canada thistle invades grasslands, roadsides, crop fields, and lawns. Repeated mowing or cutting them off at ground level before they seed can help limit the spread of the weed. 

4. Large Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

• Local Name: Crabgrass, Hairy Crabgrass, or Crab Finger Grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Large Crabgrass is a common weed in Ontario’s lawns and cultivated fields. While it is a late bloomer, it can weaken even the most manicured turf and overtake large areas through its efficient regeneration. It has also been reported to cause significant and cause yield losses in soybean and corn fields.

Grow a vigorous and well-watered lawn to discourage crabgrass growth. You can also pull out the patches of grass to get rid of the entire rhizome system. 

5. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

• Local Name: Japanese Knotweed
• Family: Polygonaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed easily identified by its broad leaves and creamy white flowers. It is mostly found in the southern and central areas of the province along roadsides, in farmlands, and gardens. 

Grazing, mowing, and other natural methods can help eradicate Japanese Knotweed.

6. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)

• Local Name: Creeping Charlie
• Family: Lamicaeae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Creeping Charlie is a perennial weed, native to Europe and Asia, but now found throughout Ontario. The weed has dark green leaves with serrated edges and small bluish flowers. Its high seed production and ability to propagate vegetatively make it a persistent weed in many subregions. 

To remove Creeping Charlie, try hand-pulling for small infestations and herbicides like Fiesta for larger areas.

7. Field Bindweed (Convolvulvus arvensis)

• Local Name: Field Bindweed
• Family: Convolvulceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Field Bindweed is an Eurasian native that can be a creeping or climbing plant about 0.5-2 m long. It can be found throughout Ontario but is commonly associated with the southwestern region in open fields, crop farms, and waste areas. 

You can pull out small patches of the weed by hand or apply natural methods like solarization and boiling water.

8. Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

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

Purslane is a common weed noted for its reddish stems, entire leaves, and dense mats. It is a native of Southern Europe and Northern Africa. 

The short succulent is a prolific seed producer and quick-spreading, making it a notorious weed of lawns, vegetable gardens, open fields, and cultivated lands.

Mulching and solarization can effectively kill the purslane and its seeds. 

9. Creeping Speedwell (Veronica filiformis)

• Local Name: Creeping Speedwell or Hairlike Speedwell
• Family: Plantaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Creeping Speedwell is a low-growing weed, native to western Asia and eastern Europe. It has rounded or kidney-shaped leaves at the base of the stem and 4-petaled blue flowers. The weed spreads by nodding on the stems and rhizomes, spreading on gardens, lawns, and sidewalk cracks.

Pull out the young plants and ensure to properly dispose of the stem and rhizome fragments to prevent regrowth. Iron-based herbicides can also provide effective control against Creeping Speedwell.

10. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

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

Dandelion is a common weed across Ontario’s cultivated fields, lawns, roadsides, and other disturbed sites. The Eurasian native is easily identified by its deeply toothed leaves and showy, yellow flowers. 

Pull solitary weeds while young and ensure to remove the taproot. Digging tools can provide better results when removing the plants and their roots as they grow in spring. 

11. Canada Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis)

• Local Name: Fleabane or Horseweed 
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Canada fleabane is an annual herbaceous plant 1.5 m tall. It has slender, long, and hairy leaves and much-branched, small, white flowers. 

Fleabane is a common weed in Ontario, especially in gardens, pastures, and roadsides. It is a noxious weed in crop fields, causing as high as 90% yield losses in soybean plantations. 

Since it has a taproot, you can remove it by pulling or hoeing. Mowing, tillage, or applying iron-based herbicides in spring or fall can also reduce seed production, dispersion, and growth.

12. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)

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

Bermudagrass is a warm-season grass about 30 cm tall. This resilient grass can grow in all types of soils and weather conditions, has a deep root system, and also spreads through rhizomes. The grass invades lawns, fields, roadsides, row crop farms, and other disturbed areas, mostly in the warmer southwestern Ontario.

Repeated digging of the grass and pulling out the root fragments is the most common way to remove the grass. Mulching and solarization can also work for flat areas.

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

• Local Name: Shepherd’s Heart, Pick Purse, Poverty Weed, or Beggar’s Tick
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Shepherd’s Purse is an annual weed that grows 50-70 cm tall, native to Europe and Asia. You can identify it by its hairy, rounded to oval leaves and small white-petaled flowers. 

In Ontario, it is found in gardens, fields, roadsides, waste areas, and can also be found in winter cereals. 

You can remove the weeds by hand-pulling, hoeing, mulching, or crop rotation to make it difficult for the weeds to establish and spread. 

14. Quackgrass (Elymus repens)

• Local Name: Quitch Grass, Couch Grass, Twitch Grass, or Scutch Grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Quackgrass is a perennial weed (30-120 cm tall) that’s native to Europe and temperate Asia. It has flat, linear leaves about 15-40 cm long and pale-greenish wheat-like spikelets. 

Scutch grass is a problematic weed in lawns, grasslands, and agricultural settings where it not only competes for important resources but also causes poor harvesting when it gets entangled in the crops. 

Whether you want to remove quackgrass from your lawn or crop field, strategies like cultivation, crop competition (planting crops at optimal depth) can prove effective. 

15. Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

• Local Name: Short Ragweed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Common Ragweed is a native of Central and Northern America, including Ontario, particularly in the southern part of the province. The summer annual can grow up to 1.5 m tall. Its leaves have a fernlike appearance and can produce small yellowish brown flowers.

It is a serious weed of riverbanks, grasslands, and agricultural fields, where it causes catastrophic losses by contaminating harvested produce. 

Remove annual ragweed by hand weeding, mechanical cutting, mowing, or planting red clover as a cover crop. Other removal methods include applying essential oils from clove, cinnamon, and red thyme.

16. Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)

• Local Name: Plantain, Common Plantain, Dooryard Plantain, or Doorweed
• Family: Plantaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Plantain is a broadleaf weed, native to Europe and Asia, but now also commonly found throughout Ontario. As the name implies, it has broad leaves that grow from a basal rosette and produces inconspicuous, small white flowers.

This resilient weed can withstand foot traffic, water-logging, and compaction, hence its prevalence in open fields, pastures, cropping systems, sports fields, lawns, and waste areas.

For smaller areas, remove the young plants before they seed and monitor to ensure there is no regrowth. 

Hand-pulling or placing a 2-4 inch deep organic mulch in ornamental plantings can prevent seedling growth. For larger infestations, apply a herbicide like Fiesta for effective control.

17. Hairy Nightshade (Solanum physalifolium)

• Local Name: Potatoweed or Brown-berried nightshade
• Family: Solanaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Hairy nightshade is a South American native annual that can be identified by its almost sticky stems and ovoid to deltoid leaves and small clusters of star-shaped, white-petaled flowers. 

It is a weed of pastures, crop fields, orchards, vineyards, roadsides, and other disturbed sites. Hairy nightshade not only competes for resources but also hosts several pests and diseases, clogs crop field machinery, and can be toxic to humans and livestock. 

Solarization and repeated tillage are effective against the weed, depending on the area and crop affected.

18. Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis)

• Local Name: Millet, Brush Millet, Bottle Brush, or Bottle Grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

A Eurasian native, Green Foxtail is a tall weed that can reach 1- 2 meters or more. It has long, glabrous leaves and an erect or nodding 20 cm long, compact spike-like panicle. 

The weed is one of the first grasses to emerge in spring, typically after the broadleaf weeds. Green foxtail can be found in gardens, cultivated fields, and roadsides throughout Ontario.

Use a trowel to pull out the weeds from the lawn. Improving turf management through proper irrigation and fertilization can also discourage weed growth. 

19. Mouse Ear Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum)

• Local Name: Mouse Ear or Large Mouse Ear Chickweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Mouse Ear Chickweed is an annual weed that nodes on the stems, forming large and dense low-growing patches. You can identify the weed by its small, oval leaves with entire margins, hairy, reddish-brown stems, and white, deeply notched flowers.

This weed can be located in a range of habitats throughout Ontario, including lawns and cultivated fields.

Pull or dig them out before they flower if spreading in a garden, and ensure to remove all the fragments to avoid resprouting. 

20. Garlic Mustard ( (Alliaria petiolata)

• Local Name: Garlic Mustard
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial

Garlic Mustard is a native of Europe and Asia that was introduced in North America as an edible herb. Today, this tall plant has become one of the top forest invaders in Ontario. 

It has been reported to displace native plants like the Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) and threaten other species like Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) and White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata).

Apart from the forests, Garlic Mustard can also be found along trails and roadsides. 

Pull the weeds by hand for small or isolated infestations and dispose of them properly. Prescribed burning or a Fiesta application on actively growing foliage can control medium to large infestations. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post 20 Common Weeds in Ontario, CA, With Pictures and Scientific Names appeared first on InsightWeeds.

It’s easily recognizable by its bright green round leaves and small bluish-violet flowers that bloom in spring. 

Apart from the expected seed propagation, the weed can regrow from stolons that take root as it grows close to the ground and break off stems from hand pulling, making it hard to control. 

If creeping Charlie is slowly overtaking your lawn or garden, and you’ve no clue what to do, you’re in the right place.

In this post, we will discuss methods you can use to keep creeping Charlie out of your yard.

Quick Ways to End Your Battle With Creeping Charlie

Whether you’re dealing with a small or large infestation or have tried other methods that yielded few results, here are helpful strategies to end the creeping Charlie battle.

Let’s get started.

1. Alter the Conditions 

Creeping thrives best in moist soil and shady areas such as under shrubs and trees. Altering these conditions can give you an edge in beating the infestation. 

Improving soil drainage or watering your yard less frequently can help decrease the soil moisture levels, discouraging growth. 

Additionally, pruning your shrubs and trees to allow more sunlight to reach the ground can weaken and kill the plants.

2. Lawn Maintenance

The ideal conditions for creeping charlie are typically not good for other weeds and turfgrasses, which allows the weed to outcompete them and become fully established. 

Improving soil and lawn health through regular mowing (2-3.5 inches), proper fertilizing and watering, and overseeding in the fall can severely limit the weeds. 

Ensure you grow the right grass (shade-tolerant under trees) or substitute it for shade-loving plants that can compete with creeping Charlie, such as English ivy, hosta, pachysandra, or vinca.

3. Pulling

Pulling is only a viable solution for small infestations.

As we mentioned earlier, it’s crucial to remove all debris from the area to prevent re-rooting.  

4. Cutting 

For larger infestations, use a vertical mower to make cuts in the soil and roots and uproot the stems with a rake. However, take extra precautions as this method can spread the nodes and lead to regrowth or worse, damage your grass.

We recommend cutting the weeds between mid-August and mid-September so you can reseed your lawn to boost growth in the injured patches.

5. Postemergence Broadleaf Herbicide 

The best way to control creeping Charlie is to apply postemergence broadleaf herbicide. Products with dicamba and triclopyr are indicated for lawns but not flower or vegetable gardens. In such areas, hand pulling or hoeing are preferable. 

For the best results, apply the herbicide on actively growing plants around mid to late autumn. Another application in spring (April-June) when the weed is in full bloom is necessary for complete eradication. 

Before application, check for these ideal weather conditions:

• Temperature — mid 60s to low 80s
• Little or no wind
• No rain is expected for the next 24 hours after the application

For lawns, it’s best not to mow a few days before and after the application. 

Controlling creeping Charlie is not easy and often takes time and effort. However, a consistent control plan that combines any of the methods above with herbicide applications can help keep the weed away from your yard for good. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Quick Ways to Keep Creeping Charlie Out of Your Yard appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Many weeds are difficult to remove. They also take up valuable space and compete with other plants for important resources like water, sunlight and nutrients.

Since there are many types of weeds, many of them bearing similar characteristics, it can be hard to identify and distinguish them. Here, we’ll help you identify weeds with purple flowers and provide removal tips that work.

1. Creeping Charlie/ Ground Ivy

Creeping Charlie, scientifically known as Glechoma hederacea, is a very problematic weed. It is low-growing, usually between a few inches to two feet above the ground. As the name suggests, this plant is a creeper with fibrous roots that spread far and wide.

So if you spot a vine weed with purple flowers on your lawn, it could be a creeping Charlie.

Another thing to note about ground ivy is its shiny dark green leaves with serrated edges, which grow in opposite pairs along its square-shaped stems. The purple flowers bloom in the spring and summer.

This lawn weed is particularly problematic due to the large number of seeds it produces and its ability to spread vegetatively by rooting at the leaf nodes.

We’ve previously discussed several ways to get rid of creeping Charlie. Here’s a list of the most effective methods:

• Pulling: Most common for small pieces of land
• Digging: Better for relatively larger spaces which you intend to utilize
• Spraying: Use of herbicides for large areas
• Mulching: This prevents creeping Charlie from growing back.

2. Henbit

This weed with tiny purple flowers in the grass (where it is often found) is often confused with creeping Charlie. Although they belong to the same family, they are not the same plant. Henbit is the less aggressive cousin to creeping Charlie.

This one, however, has hairy stems, rounded leaves, purple funnel-shaped flowers, and short stature, growing 10-25 cm above the ground. It also has a shallow fibrous root system.

A single henbit plant could produce up to 2,000 seeds in the spring, and you may want to get rid of it if you are a cattle farmer or have other plants growing around it, especially those that do not coexist well with other plants.

The removal techniques for henbit are similar to those of the creeping Charlie. However, you can also use other chemicals, as indicated here.

3. Canada thistle/creeping thistle

The scientific name for creeping thistle is Cirsium arvense. It is a perennial weed with a deep root system, making it very difficult to remove by hand.

The leaves are dark green, and its small purple flowers grow in clusters. They spread very fast, so early removal is key.

This is best done by trimming the plant down to ground level and then digging deep enough that the entire root system is removed. Note that you have to trim the plant multiple times to get rid of it completely.

4. Black nightshade

Solanum nigrum, a problematic garden weed, grows about two feet tall with small dark green leaves. The flowers could be white or purple.

It is particularly dangerous because many confuse it with the edible nightshade, but if ingested, black nightshade causes stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. The sap can also irritate the skin.

Removal can be done by hand pulling (wear gloves to avoid irritation), and if it has already produced seeds, dig up the entire plant and double-check the garden to ensure you got everything out.

5. Crane’s bill/Dove’s foot

Geranium molle has a deep root system and grows to about 20 cm in height. The leaves are lobed, and the small flowers have five petals.

For removal, it is best to hand pull or dig the root out, and it is best to do this in spring or fall. Mulching prevents the weed from sprouting again, but be careful to keep the mulch away from the base of trees.

6. Common thistle/Spear thistle/Bull thistle

Cirsium vulgare is among the easiest purple-flowered weeds to detect. It can grow quite tall, even reaching 6 feet. The leaves are prickly, and the stem is covered in tiny thorns. It grows both in the wild and in gardens.

The best way to get rid of it is by hand pulling from the root if you have a small piece of land. For larger areas, you can use herbicides, but be careful not to get them on your other plants.

7. Forget-me-nots

Myosotis sylvatica, commonly known as Forget-me-nots, is a weed with tiny purple flowers often found in gardens and lawns. It grows low, with a height of up to 12 inches, with hairy leaves, and is considered quite invasive.

For removal, it is best to use a pitchfork to loosen the soil and hand-pull them by the root. You may need to repeat this a few times. If you don’t have a pitchfork, use a closely similar tool from this list of weeding equipment.

You can also use a glyphosate-based weed killer such as Roundup, but be careful not to damage other plants.

8. Wild violets

Viola Odorta is a beautiful but problematic weed with dainty purple flowers growing at the top. Once they take root, they become hard to control. They are very competitive with other plants and spread quite fast.

To get rid of these, hand pulling is the most effective method, but it can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large piece of land. The alternative is using herbicides and taking the necessary precautions to avoid damaging other plants.

9. Selfheal/Healall

Prunella vulgaris is a perennial weed with small tubular flowers and serrated leaves, mostly found in moist, shady areas. It is edible, with the leaves being cooked or eaten raw in salads and the flowers used as tea.

Removing this fast-spreading plant by hand-pulling them or mowing them before they flower is most effective in preventing seed production. It is not advisable to use herbicides on this plant, as they barely work.

10. Musk thistle/Nodding thistle

Carduus nutans are among the purple weeds found in grass and meadows. It takes two years for this plant to complete its life cycle, growing leaves from a rosette to the ground in the first year and a flowering stalk of up to 6 feet sprouts in the second year.

The flower comprises a cluster of many smaller flowers at the top of the stalk. Its spiny leaves form underneath the flower and produce up to 50,000 seeds per plant, which remain viable in the soil even after ten years.

This problematic weed is very competitive with other plants and can be poisonous to livestock if consumed in large amounts.

For removal, hand pulling is the best option, but it is best to protect your skin from the spiny leaves. Another option is using herbicides. The best time to remove musk thistle is during the rosette stage (first year) or the flowering stage in the second year.

More about weeds

• The most common weeds in New England
• These 10 weeds that stick to your clothes
• List of plant identification apps for Android

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 purple flowers appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Is it the same as ground ivy? The short answer is yes.

The plant is commonly known by names like ground-ivy, gill-over-the-ground, creeping Charlie, alehoof, tunhoof, catsfoot, field balm, and run-away-robin.

As you can probably tell from the name, it spreads by creeping above the ground and has extensive fibrous roots.

It was introduced to the rest of the world in the 1800s by the Europeans, who used the plant in the household as a salad and tea. Creeping Charlie was cooked as greens in the early spring and was even used to curdle milk in cheese-making.

Many people often use it as a decorative garden potted plant or even a cover-up for the ground.

Aside from that, the plant served as a medicine for indigestion, ear problems, problems of the gastrointestinal tract, inflamed eyes, urinary tract problems, kidney diseases, fever, cold, and flu as a decongestant and to provide cough relief, as well as in the treatment of bronchitis.

How to identify creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie is often mistaken for creeping Jenny because of their similarities in looks. However, it is easy to tell the two apart through closer inspection.

Creeping Charlie has serrated leaves and purple flowers, while creeping Jenny has yellow flowers and leaves with smooth edges.

This perennial broad-leafed weed is particularly difficult to control and is often found invading turf grass, especially in shaded areas.

The plant has a square stem from a few inches to two feet long, with dark green leaves and purple funnel-shaped flowers.

Why do you need to get rid of creeping Charlie?

Many farmers and garden owners might wonder whether creeping Charlie is harmful and if they need to get rid of it. And if so, what is the best way to kill creeping Charlie?

As much as this plant has been used for years and years as food and medicine, like all other things, it does have its downsides.

The oil in the leaves, known as pulegone, is toxic to cats, horses, and cattle. Luckily for them and their owners, the animals don’t like creeping Charlie’s bitter taste and avoid it anyway.

However, if consumed, the plant’s oil irritates and is toxic to the liver.

This resilient lawn weed also damages turf grass, lawns, and other plants. To make matters worse, it isn’t easy to get rid of.

So if you don’t intend to utilize the land in other ways, it is probably best to ignore the plant.

Because of how hard it is to entirely and permanently get rid of it, you would need a lot of time and dedication.

It could even make a good ground cover in shady areas where the grass cannot grow.

You could, at best, try a few different ways of controlling creeping Charlie to maintain it and keep it from overrunning other surrounding plants.

If you plan to temporarily get rid of creeping Charlie by using a lawn mower, then you should only do it if your mower has a bag attached to capture the cuttings. Otherwise, its seeds might spread around, worsening your problem.

If you are still determined to get the job done and want to know how to kill creeping Charlie, it is first important to note that because it is an annual winter plant, it sprouts in the spring.

Different ways to get rid of creeping Charlie

You can eliminate creeping Charlie through these methods:

1. Hand-pulling

As much as this is one of the most common methods of creeping Charlie removal, it is a process that you would have to repeat a couple of times to fully complete the job.

For this five-step method, you will need a few tools:

• A pair of gardening shears
• A watering can or hose, depending on the size of your lawn.
• Gardening gloves. This is optional but advisable because you will manually grasp and pull the plants.
• A pitchfork

Once your tools are in place, follow these simple steps to kill creeping Charlie:

• Identify the weed: Use the information we’ve provided above to correctly identify the weed from other beneficial plants.
• Moisten the area: Use a watering hose or can to water the ground where the weed has grown.
• Lift up soil around the area: Using your pitchfork, lift up the soil surrounding the weeds. Be careful not to cover the weeds with soil otherwise, you might leave some behind while pulling.
• Grab and pull: Wear your gloves and hold creeping Charlie by the base before pulling. Do this repeatedly until you clear the entire area.

Finally, use a rake or your pitchfork to turn over the soil and check for any weeds that you’ve not pulled out. Note that you will need to pull severally before the area is free from creeping Charlie.

2. Using  herbicides

Herbicides are only good for large areas where hand-pulling isn’t possible.

When using herbicides, there are various factors that you should consider:

• Type of herbicide – selective or non-selective.
• Surrounding plants – You do not want to spray toxic herbicides around your food crops.

You will need the following:

• A herbicide that contains either  2,4-D or dicamba
• A garden sprayer. You can use a hand pump sprayer for small areas and a battery-powered sprayer for large spaces.
• Water
• Protective gear for your hands, skin, and eyes.

Follow these steps to eliminate creeping Charlie using a herbicide:

• Wear protective clothing: Use the right gear to protect your skin, nose, and eyes.
• Mix the herbicide with water: Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when mixing the herbicide with water in a pump sprayer.
• Spray: Concentrate on the stems and leaves, allowing them to soak downwards. You can use a piece of cardboard as a shield for other plants or cover them in a tarp.
• Wait: Leave the area alone until spring, when you will rake up any debris. Afterwards, you can replant your lawn.

You’ve finally managed to kill creeping Charlie. Note that the wait times for fully eliminating the plant depend on your chosen method. Besides, make sure to use the right protective gear to avoid injuries.

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 How to get rid of creeping charlie appeared first on InsightWeeds.

You can also control the most common weeds in Virginia by minimizing soil disturbance.

When you cultivate or dig the ground, it tends to bring more seeds to the surface. If exposed to the sun or light, the seeds will germinate and cause more problems.

Since different weeds have different removal methods, a more practical way of getting rid of unwanted plants on your lawn or garden is to identify them.

Here are some weeds you will see in most areas of Virginia (with pictures and scientific names) and how to remove them.

1. Annual Bluegrass – Poa annua

The annual bluegrass is a widespread, low-growing turfgrass that is common in temperate climates. It has a fibrous rootstock, and its stem can grow to a height of 25 centimeters.

Its leaves are short, blunt at the tips, smooth above and below, and vivid green.

Annual bluegrass is invasive or weedy. When it grows in your area, the best way of controlling it is to withhold water until it shows drought stress.

You can also use pre-emergent herbicides to limit its germination, but you must apply them before the seeds germinate.

2. Common chickweed – Stellaria media

The common chickweed is an annual or perennial flowering plant germinating in the autumn or late winter and forming large mats of foliage.

When it comes to weed identification, you will know you are dealing with the plant because it has a weak, slender stem with oval leaves and small white flowers.

You will find the weed in lawns and areas of partial shade to sun in moist soil.

Common chickweed needs seeds to reproduce. To keep it away from your lawn, you need to mow from time to time to prevent the spread of its seeds. While a weed killer may help, choose one that is selective to avoid harming your grass.

3. Common Blue Violet – Viola sororia

The common blue violet is a short-stemmed herbaceous perennial plant that self-seeds freely in lawns and gardens.

Its leaves and flowers emerge directly from the rhizomes and form a basal rosette. In suitable growing conditions, the weed tends to multiply in numbers and is thus considered invasive.

As one of Virginia’s many common blue violet weeds, it has a taproot system that makes it easy to remove.

You can kill it selectively on large lawns using broadleaf-based herbicides such as 2,4-D or Dicamba. The best time to remove it is during the fall.

4. Corn Speedwell – Veronica arvensis

Corn speedwell is an annual flowering plant that grows as a weed in gardens, waste places, cultivated land, and pastures.

It has hairy leaves and can grow to a height of 40 centimeters from the taproot. You can also identify the plant because of its small and weak stem with rounded and toothed lower leaves.

Classified among invasive weeds in Virginia, you can control it using specific broadleaf herbicides. A pre-emergent or post-emergent weed killer that combines triclopyr and dicamba can be useful it eliminating the plant.

5. Creeping Charlie – Glechoma hederacea

The creeping Charlie is a perennial plant considered to be an aggressive weed of lawns and woodlands.

When trying to identify weeds by photo, you will notice the plant has round, kidney, or fan-shaped crenate opposed leaves. It tends to spread by seed and comes in variable sizes, depending on the environmental conditions in which it is growing.

Since the plant spreads by seeds, it is exceptionally challenging to eradicate it. It has an extensive root system, which means you cannot remove it through hand pulling.

The only way to kill creeping charlie is by using a horticultural herbicide.

6. Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale

The dandelion is a herbaceous perennial plant known for its yellow flower heads.

It grows in temperate regions in lawns, on disturbed banks, on waterways, on roadsides, and in areas with moist soils.

As a weed, it sprouts from unbranched taproots and produces several stems that can reach 40 centimeters in height.

When the dandelion grows on your lawn, you can eliminate it using a broadleaf herbicide. Uprooting it may not offer a better solution because of its taproot system that will grow back.

7. Hairy bittercress – Cardamine hirsute

The hairy bittercress is an annual or biennial plant whose seeds germinate in the fall and remain green throughout the winter.

It flowers in the spring and often grows a rosette of leaves at the base of its stem. Its stem is hairless, and the leaves do not clasp on it.

If the plant is growing on your lawn, chemical control is the best option for eradicating it.

Use a pre-emergent herbicide in the late summer before its seeds germinate. A post-emergent weed killer can also work when applied to young and actively growing weeds.

8. Wild Garlic – Allium vineale

The wild garlic is a perennial, bulb-forming noxious weed with a strong garlic odor. It has a fibrous outer layer with a stem that grows up to 120 centimeters. Its leaves are slender and waxy in texture.

Wild garlic is among the many grass weeds in Virginia. You must dig it out deep and wide from the ground to eliminate it.

You can also apply a selective herbicide for a long-lasting solution.

9. Purple Deadnettle – Lamium purpureum

The purple deadnettle is an aggressive weed that tends to spread quickly whenever it invades a yard or garden.

As an annual plant, it grows in the winter and germinates in the spring or fall. You will find it in thin grass because it thrives in this environment.

You can identify the deadnettle because of its square stem with an umbrella or small and light-purples flowers. It also has pointed leaves that appear red to purple and are one inch long.

As one of the many lawn weeds in Virginia, you can control it by growing a healthy, thick yard and applying enough fertilizer. Pre-emergent herbicide is also useful to apply before its germination.

10. White Clover – Trifolium repens

The white clover is a herbaceous perennial plant sometimes used as a forage crop. It is common in most grassy areas, including lawns and gardens.

It produces heads of whitish flowers with trifoliolate, smooth elliptic to egg-shaped and long-petioled leaves throughout its growth.

White clovers grow in clumps and are considered among pasture weeds in Virginia.

Thus, natural methods, such as hand-pulling, are the best way of getting rid of the plant. But you must ensure you remove the entire root system to prevent it from re-growth.

Learn more about clover weed removal here.

Conclusion

Some of the common weeds in Virginia include Dandelions, Blue Violets, and Annual Bluegrass, among others. The plants can be annual or perennial and grow in various areas, including yards, disturbed areas, lawns, and gardens.

If these unwanted plants become invasive, you can eradicate them by uprooting or using herbicides.

Related

• Top 20 most common weeds with pictures
• How to use pre-emergent in North Carolina

Carter

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

The post List of common weeds in Virginia (with pictures) appeared first on InsightWeeds.