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 Perennial weeds, such as the ones profiled below, come back from the same roots year after year. They're much more tenacious than annual weeds. If you get to perennial weeds while they're young, you can still hoe or pull. But mature perennial weeds sometimes have extensive root systems that need to be removed completely. Otherwise, they'll simply regrow if you cut off their tops.
The best time to remove weeds is before they flower. They're vulnerable because all of their energy is going into flower production. Digging is still the most effective nonchemical method. Just make sure that you get all of the roots.
Repeatedly mowing or chopping off the tops also eventually weakens and kills perennial weeds: Cut the weeds down to the ground. Wait two or three weeks and cut them again before they can gather more energy to bloom. Repeat this process several times to get rid of tough perennials.
If you're working with a large lawn freckled with dandelions or have a stubborn poison ivy vine, herbicide is probably the best choice. Once you've decided that a herbicide is the way to go, always read the label closely before you buy or apply. Make sure you're choosing the one that fits your situation.
Selective herbicides will kill only certain weeds and leave surrounding plants unharmed. Most lawn herbicides are selective. They kill broadleaf weeds, such as those dandelions, but not grass. Nonselective herbicides kill all plants they come into contact with. Use a nonselective herbicide when you want to clear an area and start over. Nonselective herbicides also work great in areas where you don't need to worry about surrounding plants, such as in driveway or sidewalk cracks.
Looking at a garden full of weeds can be overwhelming. But once you identify those weeds and know how to eliminate them, you can plan your strategy and reap the rewards of a clean garden.
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Foxtail barley
Hordeum jubatum
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How it spreads: Seeds and roots
Favorite conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil; almost any location
Size: Up to 3 ft. tall
Best control: Dig; use a nonselective herbicide as the flower spikes form
Comments: Seeds have wiry bristles with tiny barbs that grip onto clothing or fur to travel to new locations
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Wild four o'clock
Mirabilis nyctaginea
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How it spreads: Seeds and roots
Favorite conditions: Part shade to full sun; well-drained soil; areas that are not frequently cultivated
Size: Up to 4 1/2 ft. tall
Best control: Dig; use a herbicide as the flowers begin to form
Comments: Thick tuber with fibrous roots beneath; small, summer flowers are pale pink to lavender
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Gray goldenrod
Solidago nemoralis
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How it spreads: Seeds and roots
Favorite conditions: Full sun to part shade; sandy, poor soil
Size: Up to 2 ft. tall
Best control:Dig; pull; use a herbicide in mid- to late summer
Comments: Shallow, fibrous root system; lemon-yellow flowers bloom in late summer and fall
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Honeyvine milkweed
Ampelamus albidus
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How it spreads: Seeds and roots
Favorite conditions: Part shade to full sun; moist soil in cultivated gardens
Size: Up to 10-ft.-long, twining vine
Best control:Dig; use a herbicide before seed pods form<
Comments: Does not have milky sap; clusters of white flowers in summer followed by milkweedlike pods; deep root system is difficult to pull
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