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 Let's face it. We all have weeds. However, getting to know them is the first step in keeping them under control. After all, when you grow a rhododendron, you need to know what it likes. To get rid of the knotweed growing along your driveway, you need to know what it dislikes — the sharp end of a hoe or a herbicide.
I've put together some photos and information to help you identify some of your problem weeds. Once you've identified one, then you'll want to know whether it's an annual or perennial. That's how I've divided up these pages. I'll start with the easiest ones:
Annual weeds
Most annual weeds, like the ones below, sprout in spring, grow quickly, flower, set seeds and die before winter. You'll want to prevent them from setting seeds because many are prolific seeders and can drop hundreds, even thousands, of seeds. These seeds can stay in the soil for years, waiting for the right conditions to germinate.
The best way to keep these weeds from producing seed is to pull or hoe your weeds from the soil. If you can't pull or cultivate, at least cut or mow off weed seed heads before they mature.
Another good way to control annual weeds in your garden is with a layer of mulch, an inch or two thick. It shades the soil surface and keeps weed seeds from germinating.
If you have lots of annual weeds and don't want to pull, hoe or mulch, there are herbicides for established weeds or pre-emergents to keep seeds from germinating. When using either type of weed control, always read and follow the instructions on the label.
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Fall panicum
Panicum dichotomiflorum
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Click for larger image
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How it spreads: Seeds
Favorite conditions: Full sun;
well-drained soil
Size: Up to 7 ft. tall
Best control:Pull
Comments: Seeds form in late summer or early fall on wide-spreading, open panicles, often with a purple tint; frequent mowing will help control this grass in lawns; fall panicum and barnyard grass look similar before they produce seedheads.
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Prostrate knotweed
Polygonum aviculare
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Click for larger image
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How it spreads: Seeds
Favorite conditions: Compacted soil; full sun; garden edges and lawns
Size: 1 to 2 in. tall; 8 to 48 in. wide
Best control:Pull, hoe, use selective herbicide
Comments: Mats form from a central tap root; common throughout North America; stems sometimes have a red tint; entire plant looks like a green, lace doily lying on the ground
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Ivyleaf morning glory
Ipomoea hederacea
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Click for larger image
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How it spreads: Seeds
Favorite conditions: Full sun; almost any soil
Size: Up to 10 ft. long
Best control:Pull or hoe
Comments: Twining vines wind through other plants and pull them down or shade them out; flowers are pink or purple with pale throats
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Common dayflower
Commelina communis
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Click for larger image
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How it spreads: Seeds
Favorite conditions: Part shade to full sun; moist soil in cultivated gardens
Size: Up to 2 ft. tall with weak, floppy stems
Best control:Pull or hoe
Comments: Blue flowers, which last one day, open only in the morning or on cloudy days
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