Garden Lovers Hate These Midwest Weeds

One of the most common that grows throughout the United States is the dandelion. However, most moms have been moved to tears when they received their first bouquet - a clump of dandelions, sort of be-draggled, from their two-year old.

This is not the case for the broadleaf plantain. The broadleaf plantain is sited as the second most common broadleaf weed after the dandelion. It can adapt itself extremely well to most sites including very wet or dry conditions. It even grows very well in heavy, compacted soils and this tricky weed defies low-mowing heights.

The broad leaf plantain has a short, thick tap root that forms a rosette of leaves that lay flat to the ground. The 3-5 prominent parallel veins in the broad, oval-shaped leaves help identify this weed. Those leaves are attached to the root system by a very fibrous celery shaped stem. Broadleaf plantain flowers in the summer on leafless, unbranched stalks that originate from the base of the plant.

Canada thistle is a creeping perennial that always colonizes in patches. Plants can reach 1-3 feet high. Canada thistle has an extremely well developed creeping root system that can grow several feet deep! The leaves are smooth on the surface and deeply lobed with prickly spines on the margins. Flowers are produced in 3/4 inch diameter purple clusters at the end of the stems in June, July and August.

Canada thistle is often associated with lower maintenance sites such as pastures, fields and roadsides. Many farm kids in the Midwest know too much about Canada thistles. A hot, nasty summer job could be to spray those thistles before they spread even further.

An annual or biennial weed of low maintenance turf and waste areas is the common mallow. Common mallow most often establishes itself along culverts, fence lines and near foundations. But I've seen this weed in any lawn that isn't chemically sprayed. It is very difficult to pull and be rid of. Roots can go deep and simply pulling off the top of the plant does not rid the area of the mallow.

Mallow has a distinctive palm shaped compound leaf and a cheese wheel type of seed pod. Plants reproduce by seed and produce pinkish to white flowers in mid-summer.

Prostrate spurge is a late-germinating summer annual weed. This weed is very low growing and is often found next to landscaped edges, parking lot tree islands, any crevice they can find, especially rock garden crevices. Spurge is tough and will tolerate some shade. But, it thrives in harsh sunlit areas, especially in dry places. It will grow in mulched landscapes. When the reddish colored stems are broken, they will produce a milk-type substance that is similar to a dandelion. If left to grow, it can quickly take-over a lovely Midwest landscaped area.

One weed that monarch butterflies love and will make their cocoons on is the common milkweed. Usually you will find milkweed in road ditches and at the ends of the Midwest fields. Milkweed does not tolerate routine mowing.

It prefers well-drained soil and full sunlight. Milkweed is easy to identify as it grows upright and has large leaves. Last year milkweeds seeds got in my flower bed. It didn't take long until I had many milkweeds. They were easy to pull if I pulled them when young. This would not be the case along a roadside or in a field, however.

Round-up will kill most of these weeds if you have a small amount that you can handle. Scott's products work well for the home lawn and gardener's needs. If weeds have over-taken an area you wish to clear, you should probably call in commercial help. They are trained to use chemical weed killers and have the license to do so. Remember when using any type of chemical weed killers, that safety comes first. Read and follow directions after you've asked any questions regarding your weed killing issues.

Do not use the same containers to fertilize your lawn or garden as you do for weed killers. For your health and safety, remember to wash your hands very well after use. Do not use around children or pets.