This weed library explains common garden weeds the way extension services do: how to recognize each one, why it spreads, and what actually works to control it. Every guide compares what different university sources say and tells you where they disagree. Start by working out whether your weed is an annual, which dies each year but seeds heavily, or a perennial, which regrows from roots, tubers or pieces.
Weeds covered so far
| Weed | Type | Key trait |
|---|---|---|
| Purslane | Summer annual | Fleshy red stems; can set seed within about three weeks; edible |
| Field bindweed | Perennial vine | Roots reach 20 feet; seed lasts for decades |
| Yellow nutsedge | Perennial sedge | Triangular stem; spreads by tubers in wet soil |
| Common chickweed | Winter annual | Star-like white flowers; thrives in cool, moist soil; can seed within about five weeks |
| Dandelion | Perennial | Deep taproot 6 inches to 2 feet; treat in late summer or fall |
| Crabgrass | Summer annual grass | Up to 150,000 seeds per plant; pre-emergent before soil reaches about 55°F |
| Creeping Charlie | Perennial, mint family | Creeping stems root at nodes; thrives in damp shade; fall treatment |
Start with the basics
- How to control garden weeds: hoeing, mulch, and why tilling can spread perennial weeds.
- Does mulch prevent weeds? Types and depth.
- Use the mulch calculator to work out how much you need, and the plant spacing calculator so crops shade the soil.
How to use these guides
Identify the weed first, because methods differ: a grass herbicide will not control a sedge, and tilling spreads weeds that regrow from pieces. Check product labels and local rules before using any herbicide, and only eat a weed you can identify with certainty. More weeds are added regularly.
See also the beneficial insects library.