Garden Weeds

Annual weeds germinate, flower and set seeds in one season and then die out. However, the seeds germinate again the following year.

Winter annual weeds germinate in the fall, establish a root system and then grow, flower and set seed the following year.

Biennial weeds are similar to winter annuals in that they germinate and grow the first season and and then set flower and seed the following year.

Perennial weeds present the biggest headache in the garden because they return every year, thanks to their tough roots--either a deep root system or a rhizome that can creep underground and send up shoots elsewhere.

• Redroot pigweed (figure A) has a stem that's green at the top of the plant and reddish near the base. It is an erect plant with fairly large leaves and coarse, stalky flowers. An annual and a member of the amaranth family, it sets grows and sets seed in the same season.
• Oak-leaf goosefoot (figure B) is a prostrate (grows along the ground) annual with fleshy leaves. The leaves are white underneath and green on top; the very fleshy stem is red with green stripes.
• Broadleaf plantain (figure C) forms a rosette of stemless leaves. Although a perennial, it reproduces only by seeds that drop off the erect flower spikes. Mowing over the seed heads can discourage its growth but it will adapt to its environment and begin to produce flower spikes closer to the ground.
• Purslane (figure D) is an annual, prostrate weed that has a reddish stem and paddle-shaped leaves. A very fleshy plant, its flowers can still set seed even if the plant has been pulled out of the ground, so be sure to remove pulled weeds from the garden.
• There are two different types of bindweed--climbing bindweed (or wild buckwheat) and field bindweed. Climbing bindweed (figure E) is an annual with arrow-shaped leaves; the field variety is a perennial with more rounded leaves. Both types form vine-like stems that twine around another plant or support. Remove climbing bindweed by pulling it out by its roots.
• Chickweed (figure F) is a prostrate annual with slightly hairy leaves. It is troublesome because it roots at the nodal area (where the leaves come out of the stem), which enables it to form a mat and spread out.
• Henbit (figure G) is a winter annual with stemless leaves that form whorls around the main stem.

Removing weeds:

• Cultivate the soil as you weed the garden. This will help loosen the soil so that the entire root system can be removed and not just the stem.
• If mechanical and organic controls don't seem to be working, check with local garden centers for appropriate herbicides. But remember, weeding is great exercise!