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.

insightweeds.com/

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.

insightweeds.com/

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

Its humid continental climate and fertile soils similarly encourage the growth of numerous weeds found along lawns, roadsides, meadows, orchards, and other disturbed sites. 

This article covers the most common weeds, their characteristics, and the best eradication methods.

1. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

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

Garlic mustard is a herbaceous biennial plant that can grow up to 1m tall. It is easily identified by its ovate to heart-shaped leaves that have a characteristic garlic smell when crushed and racemes of cross-shaped white flowers.

It is a highly invasive weed commonly found in damp hedgerows, woods and trail edges, backyards, and along roadsides in many areas across Massachusetts.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Western and Central Asia 

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: For small infestations, cutting the flowering stalks before they bloom and pulling the plants by their roots will help eradicate the weeds.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing glyphosate, triclopyr, or 2,4-D in the rosette stage, early blooming stage, or before the seed pod formation. 

2. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

• Local Name: White clover, White trefoil, Dutch clover, and Honeysuckle clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

White clover is a perennial mat-forming plant about 10-15 cm tall but can spread up to 30 cm across the ground. The herbaceous perennial has trifoliate green leaves with a red or purplish hue and globular white flowers. 

While it’s highly edible and a valuable forage for livestock, it can easily outcompete other desirable vegetation on lawns, landscapes, orchards, and nursery fields.

It is native to:

• Europe 
• Asia
• Africa

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Grow turfgrasses that are well adapted to the area, improve turf density, and adequately water and fertilize your lawn or landscape.
• Chemical control: Applications of herbicides containing dicamba, quinclorac, and fluroxypyr in the fall can provide effective control against white clover. 

3. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

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

Dandelion is one of the most common broadleaf weeds in Massachusetts. It grows 5-50 cm tall and can be identified by its long green stems, bright yellow flowers, and puffball seed heads. 

It spreads by seeds and root segments and develops a deep taproot that makes it hard to eradicate upon establishment. Common dandelion is a weed of every habitat including fertile lawns, cultivated fields, roadsides, golf courses, and rocky hillsides. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Maintaining a dense and healthy lawn can help minimize dandelion occurrence. Coarse bark and wood sawdust mulch can also be used to control the weed.
• Mechanical control: Hand pulling, digging, and flaming are effective for eradicating small infestations. We recently wrote about effective tools for dandelion removal.
• Chemical control: Applying herbicides containing glyphosate (Roundup), dicamba, 2,4-D Ester, triclopyr, and MCPA in spring or fall will effectively eradicate dandelions. 

4. Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

• Local Name: Giant hogweed
• Family: Apiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial or perennial

Giant hogweed is a biennial or perennial herb 2-4.5 m tall. It has hollow stems 5-10 cm, large compound leaves 120 cm wide, and large umbrella-like flower heads about 75 cm in diameter.

The plant reproduces through seeds and spreading roots. It is a notable weed of Granville and other areas in Massachusetts. 

It is also known to cause skin reactions when the sap comes into contact with skin and sunlight. Common symptoms include liquid-filled blisters, severe rashes, and sensitivity to sunlight.

It is native to:

• Caucasus mountain region
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand digging before the weed flowers can help eradicate the weed. Ensure that you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth.
• Chemical control: Spot spray a herbicide containing glyphosate on each plant in spring as the flowering stalk elongates for effective control. 

5. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

• Local Name: Common mugwort, Wild chrysanthemum
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Mugwort is a perennial herb that grows 60-140 cm tall. It has erect purplish stems that become woody later in the season. The leaves are alternate, dark green, about 2-5 cm long, lobed with sharp points, smooth on the upper surface, but contain white to gray hairs on the underside.

It mainly reproduces by rhizomes, making it a persistent and invasive weed. Mugwort is a common weed of roadsides, waste areas, old fields, and forest edges in locations such as Sudbury, Natick, Gill, and Allston.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• Africa

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Persistent hand pulling when the plants are young can eradicate the weed over time.
• Cultural control: Maintaining a dense and healthy lawn will discourage growth. Laying a thick layer of mulch or landscape fabric in the garden will also help prevent mugwort growth.
• Chemical control: Apply selective herbicides like clopyralid and triclopyr on lawns and turfgrasses or non-selective herbicides containing glyphosate on other landscapes.

6. Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

• Local Name: Common purslane, Purslane
• Family: Portulacaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Known as one of the most common broadleaf weeds, purslane grows up to 50 cm in height. The plant has thick, fleshy reddish stems that are mostly prostate, alternate or opposite leaves located at stem joints and ends, and yellow flowers. 

It can be found on lawns, cultivated areas, waste areas, and barren driveways. Common purslane was first identified in the United States in Massachusetts.

Due to its high seed production, it can form dense mats over a short period of time, smothering native vegetation.  

It is native to:

• North Africa
• Middle East
• India

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling or hoeing when the plants are young can help reduce the weed infestation. Ensure that you remove the root parts and clear the fallen seeds to prevent regrowth.
• Cultural control: Lay organic, rock, or plastic mulch to smother the seedlings and prevent further growth and spread.
• Chemical control: Apply pre-emergent herbicides like dithiopyr, benefin + oryzalin, or benefin + trifluralin at seedling emergence. Post-emergent herbicides like dicamba, glyphosate, and 2,4-D, and can be used in turfgrasses and landscapes.

7. Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

• Local Name: Crabgrass, Large crabgrass, and Hairy crabgrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that grows 60-90 cm tall. It has flat spreading purplish culms with pale and hairy bluish-green leaves. 

Due to its rapid growth and high persistence to a variety of dry weather and high temperatures, it is one of the most troublesome weeds in Massachusetts.

It is commonly found in lawns, gardens, golf courses, athletic fields, and waste areas across Massachusetts.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Maintaining a healthy turfgrass through proper mowing, irrigation, and fertilization can help discourage crabgrass growth.
• Chemical control: Apply pre-emergent herbicides including benefin, pendimethalin, and trifluralin in late April or early May before or the time it’s in full bloom. Repeated applications of post-emergent herbicides like quinclorac, mesotrione, and dithiopyr when the crabgrass is in the 2-5 leaf stage can provide effective control.

8. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

• Local Name: Creeping charlie, Gill-over-the-ground, and Robin-runaway
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Ground Ivy is a low-growing herb that grows 30-50 cm tall. It has creeping and prostate stems that are square in shape. The leaves are opposite, kidney-shaped, with round-toothed margins. Flowers are located on axillary clusters and are 2-lipped, funnel-shaped, and bluish-purple in colour.

Creeping charlie is common in lawns, thickets, floodplains, and disturbed sites. Due to its rapid growth, and long life cycle, it is considered a troublesome weed in many areas in Massachusetts.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling is effective for small infestations. Replace the gaps with the desired turf to discourage Ground ivy growth. 
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing triclopyr, dicamba, 2,4-D, and MCPP in early fall for large infestations.

9. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

• Local Name: Reynoutria fleece flower, Sally rhubarb, German sausage, Pea-shooter plant, Japanese bamboo, Japanese fleece flower, and fleece flower
• Family: Polygonaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Japanese knotweed is a perennial herb 3m in height. It can be identified by its hollow light green stems with red flecks, broadly ovate leaves, and small white-greenish flowers located in long panicles. 

While the plant is erect, its rhizomes can extend up to 60 meters, forming new plants that create a dense canopy in summer. It is considered a noxious and invasive weed in Massachusetts and is prohibited for sale.

It is native to: 

• Japan
• China
• Taiwan 
• Korean Peninsula

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling is effective for eradicating young plants.
• Chemical control: Applications of herbicides containing 2,4-D amine, glyphosate, triclopyr, and imazapyr can provide better control in larger areas.

10. Blue Violet

• Local Name: Common blue violet, Meadow violet, and Hooded blue violet
• Family: Violaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Blue violet is a perennial plant that can grow up to 50 cm tall. It has a short stem, hairy or smooth, that arises from a rosette of heart-shaped leaves about 10 cm long. The 5-petaled flowers are blue or purple with white hues.

The rapidly growing plant is a common weed of lawns, roadsides, meadows, streambeds, and open woodlands. 

It is native to:

• Eastern and Central America 

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling the plants from the roots is an effective option for small infestations.
• Cultural control: Maintaining a healthy lawn through proper fertilization and mowing will discourage growth.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing triclopyr and 2,4-D for effective control. 

11. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

• Local Name: Common pokeweed, Inkberry, Pokeberry, Poke, and Pigeonberry
• Family: Phytolaccaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Pokeweed is a perennial herb that grows up to 3m tall. It can be identified by its upright, thick reddish stems, broadly ovate leaves, and dark purple to black berries. 

Common pokeweed is a weed of ornamental landscapes, orchards, vineyards, parks, forest edges, and disturbed areas. 

It is native to:

• The North, central, west, and southern United States

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling is a feasible option for removing small plants. For more established plants with an extensive root system, digging and tillage can provide better ]control.
• Chemical control: Select a herbicide containing dicamba, 2,4-D, or glyphosate depending on the area and size of the weed.

12. Hair Fescue (Festuca filiformis)

• Local Name: Fine-leaved sheep fescue and slender fescue
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Hair fescue is a clump-forming turf grass that grows 20-60 cm tall. The grass has distinct slender and wiry culms with flowers attached to the branches. The leaf blades are narrow, about 0.2-0.6 mm wide.

The grass is valued for its fine texture and ability to thrive in low-maintenance landscapes. In some cases, it can behave as an invasive weed, outcompeting desired vegetation in gardens, meadows, woodland, and other natural habitats. 

It is native to: 

• Europe

Removal Methods

• Chemical control: Herbicides containing pronamide, foramsulfuron, flazasufluron, and glyphosate are effective in controlling hair fescue.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post 12 Most Common Weeds in Massachusetts appeared first on InsightWeeds.

It can be easily identified by its broad heart-shaped leaves and bamboo-like stems. 

Fallopia japonica Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Spermatophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Polygonales
• Family: Polygonaceae
• Genus: Fallopia
• Species: Fallopia japonica
• Varieties: Fallopia japonica var. japonica, Fallopia japonica var. compacta, Fallopia japonica var. variegata, and Fallopia japonica var. rubra.
• Common Names: Asiatic knotweed, Donkey rhubarb, Gypsy rhubarb, and Japanese bamboo.

Nativity and Distribution

Japanese knotweed is native to Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan. Today it can also be found in:

• Europe
• North America
• Australia
• Part of South America

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Alternate, broadly ovate leaves with an entire margin.
• Fruits: Triangular achene, glossy, and dark brown in colour.
• Stems: Semi-woody. It can grow to 3-4m tall.
• Flowers: 3-5 mm wide small creamy white borne in dense clusters 
• Roots: Fibrous root system.

Fallopia japonica is a perennial shrub that grows 3-4 tall. It is easily recognized by its broad heart-shaped leaves and stems with distinct raised nodes that give it a bamboo-like appearance. 

Stems are hollow, mostly smooth with swollen reddish grooves and light green in colour. The leaves are alternate, broadly ovate with an entire margin.

New leaves are typically red, then turn green with red veins, and when mature, turn to flat, heart-shaped, truncated at the base about 5-8 wide and 5-12 cm long. 

Knotgrass produces small creamy white flowers in dense clusters about 10 cm long on plume-like panicles. Flowering occurs between August and September.

The seeds are light brown and somewhat shiny, flattened, and oval in shape about 2.5mm long.

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Seeds: Can produce between 50,000 to 150,000 seeds
• Climate: Temperate climate with moderate temperature and moisture levels
• Dispersal: Wind, water, and animals

Fallopia japonica behaves as a perennial weed and although it’s a prolific seed producer, the weed primarily relies on rhizomes for propagation.

The rhizomes grow horizontally beneath the soil surface, producing nodes where new shoots emerge to form dense colonies. In summer, the rhizomes produce vertical shoots reaching 3-4m in height. 

The winged seeds are dispersed by wind and water — where flooding moves the plants or fragments to new areas, hooved animals, and human activities like flail mowing and using contaminated soil for farming activities. The viable seeds mainly help start new growth in recently disturbed areas.  

Similar Plants

• Fallopia sachalinensis
• Polygonum polystachyum
• Bambusa vulgaris
• Impatiens glandulifera

Uses

1. It is used as traditional medicine in Japan and China.
2. The root has high levels of resveratrol used to formulate anti-cancer drugs and nutritional supplements.
3. The shoots are used as animal fodder.
4. The plant’s young shoots are a common source of food in Japan. 
5. It is also used as an ornamental and in soil stabilization, but these uses are highly discouraged due to its invasive nature.

Impact on Farms and Environment

F. japonica is listed among the most invasive plants globally, bringing with it significant negative effects on agricultural and natural environments. It is listed as a noxious weed in many states in the U.S. and on many invasive weed lists worldwide. 

On farmlands, knotgrass competes for important resources including water and nutrients, reducing crop yield. The weed also creates dense thickets that smother plants, leading to huge economic losses. Due to its extensive growth, it adds more control and eradication effort expenses for the farmers.

Additionally, the Japanese knotweed root system exploits structural weaknesses to create bigger cracks and holes, causing damage to farmland property. This further increases damage remediation costs. 

Structural damage can also lead to property devaluation, creating big economic losses for landowners. For instance, mortgage lenders in the United Kingdom have been reported to decline financing for properties infested by F. japonica. 

Japanese knotweed can damage the environment by increasing the flood risk. During floods, whole plants or fragments often impede water flow and block storm drainages, intensifying flooding. Also, the dead plants can cause blockages on river banks, leading to streambank erosion. 

Its early emergence, aggressive growth, and towering height often hinder the growth and regeneration of native species, negatively impacting biodiversity.

Riparian habitats infested by F. japonica have been shown, for instance, to have a lower abundance of native plant species. The displacement impacts local fauna dependent on native plants for food and habitat.

Control

• Cultural control: Grazing
• Mechanical control: Cutting and mowing
• Chemical control: Herbicides like Glyphosate, Imazapyr, 2,4-D amine, and Triclopyr
• Biological control: Aphalara itadori (Knotweed psyllid)

The best way to prevent a large F. japonica infestation is to remove the small colonies as soon as they are discovered. You can use these natural removal methods.

If prevention is no longer possible, repeated mowing or cutting throughout the growing season can help limit growth. 

Consider herbicide treatments after cutting for more effective control. Stem injections, for instance, can help achieve significant weed dieback in smaller areas if correctly done in the first year. 

Chemical control can provide better Japanese knotweed control but it depends on the area of infestation and the chemical control regiment laws in different countries. 

Herbicides like Triclopyr and Imazapyr are applied on young plants in grasslands while 2,4-D amine can be applied in amenity areas, forests, and grasslands. Glyphosate and 2,4-D amine are allowed for use near water bodies.

When using any herbicide, read the label and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Consult a local professional for detailed information on the best herbicide for your farm and property. 

Aphalara itadori, the knotweed psyllid insect, has been approved as a biological agent in over five states including Oregon, North Carolina, and New York, and the National Park Service (NPS) for control of Japanese knotweed. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

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