Dandelions are the most common and easily identified weeds in the United States. They do not die at the end of the growing season and resurface again the following spring. To completely eliminate the plant, the root has to be killed.

Crab Grass is a grassy weed commonly found throughout most of the United States. It dies in the fall just before winter, but it drops thousands of seeds before then which germinate in the spring. The two most common species of crabgrass are Large Hairy Crabgrass and Smooth Crabgrass. Crabgrass is considered a weed because of its coarse appearance and the unsightly texture patterns it gives to lawns.

White Clover has a white clover-like blossom, and there are three leaves per node. The structure of the clover is low-growing with cheeping stems that root at nodes. Its life cycle is perennial. The leaves are dark green with white crescent, and they are in groups of three. Flowers are pea-like, white, growing in clusters 3/8" to 5/8" wide. It looks like other clovers. It likes to grow in areas such as fields, roadsides, and lawns. It grows spring, summer, and fall. The best time to treat it is post-emergent, or when growing in fall or spring.

Ground Ivy has creeping stems several feet long that root at nodes; small blue-violet flowers. Its life cycle is cool-season perennial. The leaves are nearly round, toothed, on long stalk. The flowers are funnel shaped, lavender, grow in clusters; they bloom in early spring. The rooting are at nodes of creeping stems. It sprouts where drainage is poor, either sun or shade. The growth period are in spring, summer, and fall. Treatment period is post-emergence, in spring and especially in fall, whenever weed is actively growing. It is hard to control.

Broadleaf Plantains are low-growing rosette of large round, very slightly tapered leaves; seed stalks rise from rosette. The structure is a rosette of large oval leaves that lies flat and tends to suffocate grasses. Seedstalks 5" to 10" long rise from center of rosette. The life cycle is perennial, and it reproduces by seeds. The leaves are large, rounded by wavy edges , 3" to 6" long. The leaves may be smooth or hairy. The flowers are numerous, with inconspicuous petals, in spikes on ends of stems. It grows in damp, rich soils, especially where shaded. It grows through June and October. The treatment period is in fall, or whenever there is good soil moisture and weed is growing vigorously.

Buckhorn Plantains are tall stalks with "foxtails" at the tip, growing from a rosette of elliptical leaves. The stalks grow from 1 to 2' tall; rosette is full rather than prostrate. The life cycle is perennial. The leaves are long, narrow, elliptical, and they are slightly pointed. Ribs or veins are prominent. The flowers are in a "foxtail" shape, 3/4" to 2" long. A circle of 1/4" stamens moves upward as it blooms. Roots are taproot with strong lateral roots, which will sprout new plants if severed and left in soil. You can find these on the sides of roads, lawns, and undisturbed areas. They grow April through July. You want to treat them in the fall, early summer, or when there is good soil moisture and weed is growing vigorously.

Bull Thistles are tall clusters of spiky leaves and stems, eventually bearing large purple blossom. It is a bushy clump of spiky leaves in first year. The life cycle is biennial. The leaves are pale or woolly on bottom, very spiny; taller then musk thistle. The flowers are large; one, two or three per stalk; reddish purple, with rigid yellow-tipped spines on bracts. The roots are taproot. They grow by roadsides and fields. They grow in late spring, or whenever weed activity is actively growing.

Wild Violet have heart-shaped leaves, small pansy-like flowers, it is blue-violet to lilac or white in color. The structure is 2 to 5 inches tall. The life cycle is perennial. The leaves are heart-shaped, often cupped; scalloped on the margin, not lobed; hairless or nearly so; all basal. Flowers are pansy-like, less open and smaller then birdsfoot violet. It may be purple, yellow, or white. Side petals hairy on inside near base. The roots are dense, and a fibrous system. The Wild Violet looks like most other members of the viola family. They grow in shady, moist, fertile soil. It blooms in March-May. Grows best when cool. It is best treated in May-June; fall; whenever weed is actively growing. This weed is hard to control.