No matter how well you plan your garden, weeds have a way of showing up and taking over. But not all weeds are purely pests—some have medicinal properties or even culinary uses. The key is knowing which ones to keep an eye on, how they behave, and how to get rid of them if needed.
Here’s your complete guide to 15 common garden weeds—how to identify them, what they’re good or bad for, where they might be invasive, and how to remove them organically or chemically.
Table of contents
- 1. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- 2. Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)
- 3. Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
- 4. Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)
- 5. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
- 6. Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria)
- 7. Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
- 8. Chickweed (Stellaria media)
- 9. Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
- 10. Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium album)
- 11. Plantain (Plantago major)
- 12. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
- 13. Spurge (Euphorbia spp.)
- 14. Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus / C. esculentus)
- 15. Oxalis (Oxalis stricta)
- Conclusion
1. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelions are likely the most recoginzeable of the common weeds with their bright yellow blooms and fluffy seed heads. While they’re often seen as a nuisance in lawns, the flowers, leaves, and roots are all edible! Their leaves are edible and high in vitamins A and K. There are many different recipes for dandelions, and we highly suggest trying some out as they are surprisingly delicious. Their long taproots can loosen compacted soil. However, they spread aggressively by seed and are common across temperate regions.
Organic Control: Pull when soil is moist, removing the full taproot.
Chemical Control: Spot treat with selective broadleaf herbicide.
2. Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)
Crabgrass is a sprawling, low-growing grass that thrives in hot, sunny areas with disturbed soil. It has little to no benefit and competes aggressively with turfgrass and garden plants. Common across North America, it’s especially problematic in lawns.
Organic Control: Use corn gluten meal in early spring; maintain dense turf.
Chemical Control: Apply pre-emergent herbicide in spring or post-emergent for active infestations.
3. Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
This spiky perennial weed spreads through both seeds and underground roots. While its flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, its aggressive growth chokes out native plants. It’s considered invasive in many U.S. states, especially the Midwest and Northeast.
Organic Control: Repeated cutting and mowing reduces vigor.
Chemical Control: Apply systemic herbicide during flowering.
4. Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)
Japanese Knotweed resembles bamboo and can grow over 10 feet tall. It’s known for damaging sidewalks and foundations, but young shoots are edible (with caution). Native to East Asia, it’s highly invasive in the U.S., U.K., and parts of Europe.
Organic Control: Cut repeatedly and smother with tarps.
Chemical Control: Apply glyphosate to cut stems late in the season.
5. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
This biennial weed has heart-shaped leaves and a strong garlic scent. It’s edible in small quantities and was once used medicinally, but it outcompetes native woodland plants and disrupts soil fungi. Invasive in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S.
Organic Control: Pull before flowering; dispose to prevent reseeding.
Chemical Control: Apply broadleaf herbicide in early spring.
6. Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria)
Also known as bishop’s weed, ground elder has pretty white flowers and was historically used to treat gout. However, it spreads rapidly by rhizomes and can take over flower beds. It’s particularly troublesome in the Northeast U.S. and Europe.
Organic Control: Smother with cardboard and mulch; persistent hand removal.
Chemical Control: Use systemic herbicide on new growth.
7. Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Often used as groundcover, periwinkle is evergreen and produces purple flowers. It’s good for erosion control but can invade woodlands and natural areas, particularly in the Southeastern U.S. and parts of Europe.
Organic Control: Manually pull and bag removed plants.
Chemical Control: Cut and spray vines with glyphosate or triclopyr.
8. Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Chickweed is a cool-season annual with tiny white flowers and succulent stems. It’s edible and has anti-inflammatory properties, but quickly carpets vegetable beds and containers. Common across the U.S. and Europe.
Organic Control: Mulch heavily and pull before seeding.
Chemical Control: Use contact herbicide early in growth.
9. Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
With twining vines and trumpet-shaped flowers, bindweed is beautiful but highly invasive. It wraps around other plants, stealing light and nutrients. It’s a persistent problem in both the U.S. and Canada.
Organic Control: Repeated cutting weakens the root system.
Chemical Control: Apply systemic herbicide when blooming.
10. Lamb’s Quarters (Chenopodium album)
A fast-growing annual with dusty-looking leaves, lamb’s quarters are high in calcium and iron and often eaten as a spinach substitute. However, they self-seed aggressively and compete with crops. Widespread in North America and Europe.
Organic Control: Pull young plants before seed set.
Chemical Control: Spot spray with non-selective herbicide.
11. Plantain (Plantago major)
Broadleaf plantain grows low to the ground and is tough to mow over. It has traditional medicinal uses for skin irritation and inflammation but competes with turfgrass in compacted soils. Found nearly worldwide in temperate climates.
Organic Control: Pull with a dandelion weeder; improve soil aeration.
Chemical Control: Use selective broadleaf herbicide.
12. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
This succulent-like weed is actually highly nutritious and eaten in many cultures. However, it’s a prolific seed spreader and thrives in poor, dry soil. Found globally in gardens and disturbed soil.
Organic Control: Pull and dispose of before seeds drop; heavy mulching.
Chemical Control: Apply broadleaf herbicide while young.
13. Spurge (Euphorbia spp.)
Often confused with Purslane, Spurge is a creeping plant with tiny leaves and a sticky white sap. It’s toxic if ingested and can irritate skin, but its compact growth can act as a groundcover. Found in hot, dry climates across the Southern U.S.
Organic Control: Pull with gloves before seed development.
Chemical Control: Spot treat with contact herbicide.
14. Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus / C. esculentus)
Often mistaken for grass, nutsedge has triangular stems and thrives in wet, poorly drained soils. Some species produce edible tubers (like “tigernuts”), but they’re incredibly hard to remove. Invasive across warm U.S. zones and tropical climates.
Organic Control: Solarize soil; pull continuously.
Chemical Control: Use sedge-specific herbicide like halosulfuron.
15. Oxalis (Oxalis stricta)
Also called wood sorrel, oxalis resembles clover and has yellow flowers. It’s mildly edible and sour-tasting but self-seeds explosively and invades lawns and pots. These are common weeds in temperate and subtropical zones worldwide.
Organic Control: Pull from moist soil; mulch heavily.
Chemical Control: Use pre-emergent in spring and spot herbicide as needed.
Conclusion
While some common weeds offer unexpected benefits—from nutrition to pollinator support—most are better managed or removed to maintain healthy, balanced landscapes. Using a mix of organic and chemical strategies tailored to each weed will help you stay ahead of the invasion without harming your soil, plants, or local ecosystem.
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