Here’s a terrific chart of common weeds, by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Get to know the weeds that make their homes in your garden. The more you know about them, including their life cycles and reproductive habits, the more weapons you have with which to thwart them.

Spotted spurge, Euphorbia maculata

Hairy bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta

Three-seeded mercury, Acalypha virginica

Hairy bittercress taking over a neglected patch in my garden.

And please, avoid using chemical weed controls. They can be toxic to pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and can persist in the soil for very long periods of time. Mulch and other methods of weed control are more sustainable, and healthier for you, your family, your pets, and the environment over the long term.