The warming weather of spring heralds the sprouting of the garden. And though you may have meticulously planned your vegetable and flower garden, not everything that sprouts will be welcomed. Thus, it is helpful to be able to identify and manage some common weeds found in the home garden. 

A weed known by many names (bedstraw, cleavers, Velcro plant), Catchweed (Galium aparine) is native to North America and can be found all over California. It is easily identifiable by its oblong whorled leaves and its “sticky” nature due to the hairs on the plant.Catchweed is a common weed in the home garden and can be easily controlled if hand hoed or pulled up before the plant goes to flower. However, if left to mature to flowering,Catchweed will spread seeds easily. Mulching will inhibit the emergence of seedlings, though further management will be required throughout the season.

Catchweed bedstraw. photo by Jennifer Baumbach

Common Mallow (Malva parviflora), is most easily managed when still young, as the plant develops a tap root that can be difficult to pull when the soil is dry or impacted. Common mallow seedlings can be identified by its heart shaped cotyledons, or slightly ruffled and round broad leaves. The seedlings can be either pulled or hoed, while mature plants will need to be fully pulled to prevent the plant from resprouting from the taproot.

Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) will get its start in the winter months, maturing later in the summer. Throughout spring, prickly lettuce will appear as a basal rosette and can be easily pulled from the base of the plant. If left to mature, prickly lettuce will send up flower stalks and the plant develops spines along the leaves of the plant. Be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands if pulling mature plants.

Foxtails (Setaria spp.) are an especially troublesome plant for gardeners with pets. When the grass goes to seed, it produces barbed seed heads that can become lodged in your pet's nose. This typically requires veterinary assistance to remove. It's important to manage this plant early on before it can go to seed. Young plants will grow parallel to the ground and can be easily pulled up.

For further information, the University of California's Integrated Pest Management System has a helpful online tool that will walk you through the steps of weed identification and management strategies. In most cases, hand pulling or hoeing before the onset of seeds is the most effective management strategy.