How To Identify Common Garden Weeds

The bane of every gardener – the common garden weed. These fiddly little menaces are a constant threat to our dream gardens, and part of the problem is that there are so many different types of weed that it can be difficult to identify exactly what you are dealing with.

That’s where we come in. In this blog we are going to be taking a look at exactly what a garden weed is, before we cover the 30 most common garden weeds in the UK, and how you can identify weeds by photo.

What is a garden weed?

Garden and lawn weeds are plants that you don’t want. They take up valuable nutrients and water, meaning that your young plants and grass can struggle to get everything it needs. We’re going to help you with identifying weeds that can prevent you from having a healthy lawn and garden. Be sure to shop our weed killers if you need help to control garden weeds.

30 most common lawn & garden weeds and how to identify them

1. Dandelion

Dandelion plants are a common perennial plant that you can identify by its yellow flowers that mature into puffballs. These plants spread their seeds like mini parachutes (particularly popular with small children!). Mulch garden beds to help prevent them growing, and pull existing plants by hand to remove them.

2. Crabgrass

This grassy weed will grow its root system anywhere that the stem makes contact with soil, meaning it can spread quickly. It’s an annual weed, so will die off (usually when the first frost hits), but the seeds can remain in the soil for three years. It can be controlled by regular mowing.

3. Oxalis

Like the dandelion, this is another of our broadleaf weeds that produces yellow flowers. It has a perennial creeping root system, which can get out of control quickly. It’s one of the prettier weeds, but you can control it with mulching, or pulling by hand.

4. Common Chickweed

This annual wildflower produces tiny white flowers with light green leaves around them in the shape of a star. It also produce seeds that germinate incredibly quickly, so this is another attractive weed that can take over if you’re not careful. This can be prevented if you mulch garden beds in early spring.

5. Couch Grass

This fast-growing perennial weed is commonly found in borders, and it can spread quickly with its underground stems. It doesn’t root deeply, but it produces rhizomes in early spring which root before other plants get chance. You can remove it by forking it out, or by mulching.

6. Goosegrass

Sometimes known as ‘cleavers’, these are those ‘sticky’ weeds with bright green leaves that cling to clothing and pets (again – very popular with young children!). They produce hundreds of seeds, but are easily removed with a hand pull.

7. Bittercress

These low-growing plants have small white flowers, which can spread quickly via seed, which can move up to 1 metre from the parent plant. The easiest way to remove bittercress is by pulling it by hand.

8. Canada thistle/Creeping thistle

This broadleaf perennial has spiny green leaves, and a deep root system that can make it difficult to remove. You can dig it out by hand, but a broadleaf herbicide may be the easier way to go.

9. Henbit

Henbit is a creeping plant that grows low to the ground. It has soft, hairy stems and produces purple flowers. They can spread aggressively, but you can prevent that from pulling the plants before they flower.

10. Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie is identified by its scalloped leaves and clusters of purple flowers, and it spreads via its horizontal stems that root when it comes into contact with soil. It can even grow from pieces of stem that break off. The best way to remove it is either by hand or with a herbicide.

11. Common Ragwort

Ragwort may look harmless, but it falls into the category of poisonous plants, which can harm horses or cattle. It produces lots of seeds, so can spread quickly, but can be removed easily by digging it out.

12. Nettles

Not as popular with young children, nettles spread by seed and their creeping roots. As their root system is quite shallow, they can be removed by hand pull (with decent gardening gloves).

13. Creeping Buttercup

These pretty weeds with bright yellow flowers have a dense network of shoots and creeping stems, which allows them to spread quickly. You can dig them out easily, or just deadhead them to stop them spreading.

14. Japanese Knotweed

These rapidly spreading non-native plants can be a huge problem if left unattended – to the point that you are legally obliged to let the buyer know if you are selling a house with Japanese knotweed present. You may need professional help to remove and dispose of it.

15. Green Alkanet

This vigorous perennial can smother small plants in your garden. It can be identified by its bristly green leaves and blue flowers, and can be removed by digging out.

16. Wood Avens

Wood Avens, despite its pretty yellow flowers, can be a nuisance in your garden as it spreads quickly via its hooked seeds that cling to animals and clothing. To remove them, you can mulch to smother seedlings, or remove by hand pull.

17. Bindweed

Bindweed uses an extensive root system to climb as high as 6 foot, with its arrowhead leaves and twining vines. Another one of our perennial plants, you can prevent growth with mulching or a nonselective herbicide.

18. Docks

Another from the perennial weeds section, the dock is renowned for its broad, dark green leaves and large seed heads. The best way to prevent docks from growing is by mulching.

19. Nutsedge

A grass-like perennial weed, the nutsedge has slender green leaves with triangular stems. They often grow faster than turf grass, which makes them easier to identify. Pull up by the hand.

20. Plantain

With its oval, broad leaves and thin spikes of flowers, plantain is easy to spot, but it can spread quickly. Prevent with mulching or a post-emergent herbicide.

21. Dayflower

Another grassy weed, Dayflower, can grow up to 30 inches tall, with their dark green leaves and blue flowers in the summer. These are best prevented by mulching or a nonselective herbicide.

22. Ground Elder

As a creeping weed, Ground Elder can spread quickly from garden-to-garden. You can identify it from it’s white flowers that look like that of an elder tree. Remove with a fork, or if the problem persists, try a weed killer.

23. Lesser Celandine

This plant grows low to the ground, producing yellow flowers. Its root system spreads quickly, so, while it is only around during the spring, you can remove it by mulching or hand pull.

24. Speedwell

Speedwell uses its creeping stems to spread quickly, which can be a problem in lawns. It has small flowers (of different colours) and oval leaves. Mulch young plants when you see them to prevent growth.

25. Catsear

Often confused with dandelions due to their similar yellow flowers, and spread its weed seeds in the same way. Control with mulching and pulling by hand.

26. White Clover

With small, white flower clusters and three-lobe leaves, White Clover spreads very quickly to form dense coverage in your garden. Mulch garden beds to prevent growth, or use iron-based weed killers on your lawn.

27. Pigweed

Pigweeds are tall plants which produce clusters of green flowers around large green leaves. It’s quite rare in the UK, but it is a noxious weed. To remove, mulch, or use a pre-emergent herbicide.

28. Lambsquarters

Lambsquarters is an edible weed (similar to spinach), but it can grow and spread quickly to become a nuisance. It pulls up easily, but if the problem is really bad, consider using a weed killer.

29. Common Mouse-Ear

Common Mouse-Ear produces tiny white flowers with five petals, with white hairs on the dark green leaves. It spreads from the roots, so pull plants by hand, ensuring you get the entire plant and its roots.

30. Ivy

Ivy is a vigorous climber, with dark green leaves that have white veins. It is potentially harmful to touch, and is very invasive. Cut the stems regularly to keep it in check, or use a herbicide if the problem is unmanageable.

How to control & prevent weeds from growing

There are three main ways that you can control and prevent garden weeds from growing in your garden – pulling by hand, mulching and using the appropriate weed killers. If you want to protect your garden plants and lawn, then it’s important to keep on top of this.

Shop our weedkillers today to find the perfect solution to any weed problem. With free UK delivery on all orders, you can’t start taking back control of your garden in no time at all. Check out the blog on the best weed killers for driveways.