Common Weeds

Chickweed (annual)

Appearance: Mat forming; pairs of yellowish green leaves on trailing, slender stems
Soil Indications: Low calcium, phosphorus; high nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, organic matter
Removal: Pull by hand; overseed with grass seed late in the summer before weed reestablishes

Crabgrass (annual)

Appearance: Coarse textured, yellow-green grass with reddish, branched stems
Soil Indications: Low calcium, phosphorus; high nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, organic matter
Removal: Pull by hand; overseed with grass seed late in the summer before weed reestablishes

Broadleaf Plantain (annual)

Appearance: Broad oval, leaves in a rosette; stock rising from the center; deep taproots
Soil Indications: High calcium, potassium, phosphorus; poor drainage; hardpan; acidic
Removal: Add lime, compost, compost tea; dig deep, aerate with a core aerator

Curly Dock (perennial)

Appearance: Often confused with dandelion; long serrated leaves; taproot
Soil Indication: Low calcium, bacteria; pH; high phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, poor drainage
Removal: Add calcitic lime, compost, compost tea, dig by hand

Chicory (perennial)

Appearance: Leaves resembling dandelions at base, deep taproots
Soil Indications: Low calcium, nitrogen, hummus; high potassium, sulfur, anaerobic
Removal: Add calcium, nitrogen, compost, compost tea, dig deeply to get full root system

Creeping Charlie (perennial)

Appearance: Low-growing, creeping plant with scalloped leaves and small, purple flowers
Soil Indications: Low nitrogen, bacteria; high calcium, iron, sulfur; poor drainage
Removal: Add nitrogen, compost, compost tea; dethatch

Hawkweed (perennial)

Appearance: Bright orange and yellow flowers on leafless stems; also called Indian paintbrush
Soil Indications: Low calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, hummus, bacteria, pH
Removal: Add calcium, nitrogen, compost, compost tea, calcitic lime

Violet (perennial)

Appearance: Common ground cover with heart shaped leaves; purple or white flowers in the spring
Soil Indications: Low calcium, pH
Removal: Add calcitic lime; hand remove as much of root system as possible

Credit: Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Learn more at: http://cumberlandswcd.org/site/yardscape-2/