Gardens weeds are the pests of the gardening society. They spread rapidly and smother desirable plants and the garden loses its beauty and vitality. While some weeds may seem harmless, they can still cause allergy symptoms, skin irritation or more serious poisonings. I know I’ve had my fair share of bad luck with many types of them.
Dandelions
1. Dandelions: Dandelions are a common weed found in many gardens. They have long, thin stems with yellow flowers at the top. Dandelions can be difficult to remove because they have deep taproots that are hard to pull out. To remove them, you can use a weed puller tool or dig them out with a small shovel. This being said, dandelions are the weeds I never get rid of. I just simply LOVE them. If you want to get rid of them and they’re being too annoying for your garden, of course you can, but they’re just so great. For bees, for nature.. it makes me happy when I see them. Haha!
Crabgrass
2. Crabgrass: Crabgrass is an annual weed that spreads quickly and can choke out desirable plants. It has a low-growing habit and can be identified by its wide blades and seed heads. I use a hoe to dig them up, or you can also apply a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring to prevent it from growing.
Bindweed
3. Bindweed: Bindweed is a vine-like weed that can grow up to six feet long. It has white or pink trumpet-shaped flowers and can be identified by its heart-shaped leaves. I actually love it’s flowers, they’re soo pretty. Bindweed can be a pain to remove because it spreads SOO quickly and has deep roots. To remove it, you can try pulling it out by hand or using a systemic herbicide that will kill the plant from the roots up.
Thistles
4. Thistles: Thistles are tall weeds with spiky leaves and purple flowers. Growing up, I would pick it’s flower and get my hands hurt, but I loved them still. They have such deep roots and can spread quickly. To remove them, you can use a garden fork to dig them out or once again, apply an herbicide directly to the leaves.
Chickweed
5. Chickweed: Chickweed is a low-growing weed with small white flowers. It can spread quickly and create a thick mat that can choke out desirable plants. You can pull it with your hand or use an herbicide.
Quackgrass
6. Quackgrass: Quackgrass is a perennial weed that can spread SOO quickly through underground rhizomes. To remove it, you can dig it out with a shovel or use an herbicide that targets the root system.
Purslane
7. Purslane: Purslane is a succulent weed that can grow up to six inches tall. To remove purslane, you can hand pull it or use an herbicide that targets broadleaf weeds.
Horsetail
8. Horsetail: Horsetail is a perennial weed that can grow up to four feet tall. It has jointed stems and can be difficult to remove because it has deep roots. To remove horsetail, you can dig it out with a shovel or use an herbicide that targets the root system.
Nutsedge
9. Nutsedge: Nutsedge is a perennial weed that can be identified by its triangular stems and small, brown seed heads. It can be difficult to remove because it has deep roots and can spread quickly. To remove nutsedge, you can use a hoe to dig it up or apply an herbicide that targets the root system.
Japanese Knotweed
10. Japanese Knotweed is a pesky unstoppable weed that can grow up to 10 feet high. It has large, heart-shaped leaves and bamboo-like stems, so it is relatively easy to identify. The trouble with Japanese Knotweed is that it’s deep-rooted and spreads quickly, so can be difficult to eradicate. If you’re up for fighting back, you can apply an herbicide labeled specifically for this weed or bring in a pro to help nuke it.
And, in general, it’s in your garden’s best interest to get rid of weeds because your plants don’t want them. The best way to minimize weeds is to have healthy soil; you can do this by working in organic matter and mulching. Also, the moment you see any hint of a weed, pluck them out immediately.
If your tasks include pulling weeds, you need to have gloves to safeguard your skin and prevent exposure to pesticides and similar chemicals. It’s also worth noting that if you are using an herbicide, clearly following the directions is important, you shouldn’t apply herbicides on windy days, for example, when they could drift.
There are so many unwanted garden weeds that can give gardeners a hard time. But with the right tools and technique, you can easily remove. Keeping the weeds out of the garden will keep your plants in the best health you can provide.
