Are you struggling with weed growth on your lawn, in your garden, or in your vegetable plot?
Let’s explore some of the most common weeds found in Eastern Ontario and the most effective treatment options:
Chickweed
What: Cool-season annual plant with small white flowers.
Where: Most commonly found on thinning lawns or after topdressing. It can also be found in areas with moist soil and good sun exposure.
How to treat: Begin with hand weeding. Spray with Weed Control spray. To eventually crowd out chickweed, you can overseed the lawn.
Lambs Quarter
What: Annual weed. Lambs Quarter can reach 1.5 m in height and spread to a width of 40 cm.
Where: Grows in bare loose soil or tilled soil such as vegetable plots and gardens.
How to treat: Hand weed, mow (if on a lawn) and Spray with Weed Control spray.
Purslane
What: An annual succulent with red stems and clustered leaves.
Where: Often found in loose soil, appears after rototilling or cultivating. Can be found anywhere in the yard independent of soil conditions.
How to treat: Hand weeding and mulching.
Canadian Thistle
What: A perennial plant that can grow to 1.2 m in height and 60 cm in width. Bull Thistle is similar, and has the same control conditions.
Where: It survives a range of moisture conditions and soil types.
How to treat: Hand weed, but be careful because it has spiked leaves. Treat areas with a Weed Control spray.
Dandelion
What: A perennial weed, very common and recognizable by the yellow flower head.
Where: Lawns, gardens, ditches, and fields.
How to treat: Begin by hand weeding, then treat areas with a Weed Control spray. Overseed to crowd out the weed for the following season.
Clover
What: A perennial with disputed status as a weed – some view it as a ground cover crop.
Where: Most soils.
How to treat: Hand weeding, treat areas with a Weed Control spray.
Creeping Charlie
What: A perennial, evergreen creeper, Creeping Charlie is a very difficult weed to control.
Where: Loves shady, moist areas. Spreads very quickly. Spreads through runners and seed.
How to treat: Overseed in the spring and fall.
Crabgrass
What: Annual grass, reseeds and dies back with the frost each fall.
Where: Typically on lawns and along the edges of driveways and roads.
How to treat: Start with hand weeding. Spot treat areas with a Weed Control spray, then overseed. Apply Corn Gluten Meal in the spring and fall.
Poison Parsnip
What: Perennial weed with yellow flowers appearing in the second year.
Caution: the sap can cause serious burns to the skin and eyes.
Where: Grows on lawns and in fields.
How to treat: Call a professional or call 311 (City services).
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