Recognize The 11 Common Weeds in New Jersey (NJ) with Pictures

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A weed is never a welcoming guest in a garden. They’re environmentally friendly but may swiftly take over your garden if you’re not cautious. Also, weeds grow like crazy all through the summer.

The term “weed” is not a part of any official botanical taxonomy but rather a pejorative term for plants that are widely considered unwelcome. In contrast to more visually pleasing garden plants or wildflowers, weeds are often low-flowering plants with unattractive foliage.

Weed identification is complex and typically unnecessary. Nonetheless, determining which weeds are the most pressing might pave the way to controlling them efficiently.

As a result, we have included a catalog of common New Jersey weeds below.

Common Weeds in New Jersey

Now, let’s discuss some common weeds in new jersey that wreaks havoc on your beautiful lawn.

1. Crabgrass

Crabgrass
Image Source: preen
TypeSummer annual
EdibleYes, Seed

Crabgrass grows slowly, blooms in the summer, and spreads both vegetatively and by sending out new shoots from the base of its nodes. It can reach a height of 2 feet if left alone. It thrives in hot, dry climates which a common weed in nj.

After the earth has warmed up, this plant begins to sprout in the middle of spring and continues through the summer. Since crabgrass is an annual, it must constantly reset itself after each season ends, and the first cold kills it.

Control Tips

An excellent method of getting rid of crabgrass is to use a pre-emergent herbicide before the crabgrass seed in your lawn may grow.

2. Purslane

Purslane
Image Source: gardenerspath
TypeTropical perennial
EdibleYes

At least in one U.S. state, purslane is viewed with suspicion. Why is this tasty weed a succulent plant that grows every year? Since it is cultivated as a crop in certain places and is rich in vitamins, it seems logical.

For the solution, one needs to recall the original meaning of the word “weeds.” A single plant of purslane may produce over 2 million seeds! In the late spring, it spreads through tiny black seeds or stem fragments, and it may also apply vegetative propagation through its leaf, making it a tough weed to get rid of.

Numerous gardeners have hoed purslane only to see it back in full vigor the next day. If you want to cultivate purslane sparingly, you’ll need to think about methods of eradicating it.

Control Tips

Common purslane and its seed can be eradicated by the soil solarization technique of covering wet soil with a transparent plastic sheet for 4–6 weeks throughout the summer.

3. Virginia Buttonweed

Virginia Buttonweed
Image Source: theadvocate
TypeBroadleaf annual
EdibleYes, unripe seeds

The Virginia buttonweed is a perennial weed in nj that spreads using thorny, branching branches. The leaves are long and lance-shaped; they grow opposing one another on the stalks; a membrane links them.

To thrive, Virginia buttonweed needs plenty of water. Virginia buttonweed has tubular blooms ranging from white to purple and blush on the axis of its leaves. Flowers have five points, like a star. The Virginia buttonweed may propagate both vegetatively and asexually.

Control Tips

When sprayed in the spring, herbicides containing the active chemicals 2,4-D, dicamba, mecoprop, and sulfentrazone effectively inhibited the initial flush of buttonweed seedlings and killed developing perennial plants.

4. Lambsquarters

Lambsquarters
Image Source: mofga
TypeSummer annual
EdibleYes, both raw & cooked

Yet another edible weed! Lambsquarters, a fast-growing annual that blooms throughout the summer, is healthy and tasty when steamed, added to salads, or used to make juice.

But remember to appreciate the soft young lambs’ quarters since they will grow into a true nuisance if you don’t.

This annual broadleaf weed causes significant damage to sugar beet, vegetable, and pulse crops such as dry edible soybeans, lentils, and chickpeas over the summer.

The seeds of the annual lambs quarters plant are tiny and lightweight enough to be carried by the wind over relatively short distances, contributing to the plant’s rapid spread. In ideal circumstances, these weeds may get established rapidly and spread extensively.

In some instances, the seeds might remain viable for decades after being planted.

Control Tips

Herbicides are the best way to control lambs quarters.

5. Aster

Aster
Image Source: bhg
TypeHerbaceous perennial
EdibleYes, both leaves & flowers

Asters, which look like daisies, bloom towards the end of summer and the beginning of October. They may be found in various sizes and colors and typically only damage perennial plants.

Pulling the plants by hand is the most effective method of stopping the spread of aster. Careful use of pre-emergent herbicides that target broadleaf weeds is also an option.

Control Tips

Pulling the plants by hand is the most effective method of stopping the spread of aster. Careful use of pre-emergent herbicides that target broadleaf weeds is also an option.

6. Pigweed

Pigweed
Image Source: oregonlive
TypeAutumn bushy
EdibleYes

The most “difficult” annual plant is pigweed. Since its evolution, it has acquired characteristics that make it a formidable adversary, particularly in broadleaf crops such as soybeans and cotton.

Pigweed is a perennial weed that spreads by seeds and has a fleshy, crimson taproot. This plant prefers warm temperatures and often emerges in early summer or late spring.

Control Tips

A pre-emergence herbicide containing trifluralin is an effective method of controlling spiny pigweed.

7. Chickweed

Chickweed
Image Source: en.wikipedia
TypeBroadleaf annual
EdibleYes, flowers & leaves

Winter annual chickweed thrives in moist environments. A large number of insect pests & plant viruses may be found there. It might take up to 8 years to eliminate common chickweed when it has no other plants to compete.

Being a plant that does well in damp, chilly environments, chickweed typically establishes itself before springtime crops can compete. Because of this, it may reduce the number of vegetables you can harvest.

Although it may reach a height of 2 inches, common chickweed is often seen growing in thick mats. The five white petals of each bloom are relatively tiny. The common chickweed may thrive in a wide variety of soils.

When the soil’s pH is low (acidic), it also doesn’t flourish. However, those with a neutral pH and enough nitrogen are ideal.

Control Tips

Early cultivation, including manual weeding, can successfully manage chickweed.

8. Dandelion

Dandelion
Image Source: healthline
TypeBroadleaf perennial
EdibleYes

This weed is a perennial that grows in the shape of a rosette of leaves from which clusters of yellow flowers emerge. Dandelions’ cheerful yellow flowers are a welcome sight every spring. Even if they aren’t very fond of them, bees may benefit from dandelions.

To show your concern for bees, if: While a garden with a wide variety of flowers and no weeds would be ideal for bees, even a lawn full of dandelions would be preferable to weed-free grass.

Eventually, dandelions will overrun the whole garden, including its flowers and grasses. Additionally to producing windborne seed, dandelion plants may reproduce vegetatively using their enormous tap roots. You can be sure the plant will return unless you remove the source very far into the ground.

Control Tips

An application of weedkiller in the autumn allows the chemical to penetrate deep into the soil, where it can destroy weeds at their roots.

Also Read: 10 Best Dandelion Killers (Reviews & Guide 2022)

9. Charlie Creeps

Charlie Creeps
Image Source: garden.lovetoknow
Typeperennial, evergreen
EdibleYes

Shaded lawns often have this weed in nj, Creeping Charlie, and wild violet growing in them. This perennial plant is a native of Europe and has a vining growth pattern low to the ground.

The brilliantly green leaves of this plant have scalloped margins, and they grow on creeping stems that spread out over the land. The problematic nature of Creeping Charlie is that it may apply both vegetatively and via seed.

If you attempt to remove it by digging up the rhizome (root) and leaving even a little portion behind, the rhizome might sprout new shoots.

Control Tips

To get rid of creeping charlie, trim the plant using gardening shears, leaving just enough leaves and stems above ground for manual removal.

10. Thistle of Canada

Thistle of Canada
Image Source: inaturalist
Typecreeping perennial
EdibleYes, Leaves

The Canada thistle, originating in Eurasia, is an invasive, perennial weed known for its aggressive, creeping growth. It may be found in cropland, pastures, and even non-crop places like ditch banks and waysides.

Cattle will avoid grazing in areas infested with Canadian Thistle, causing a decrease in fodder intake. It spreads by seed and white, creeping rootstocks that generate new branches every 8 to 12 inches.

Asexual reproduction occurs by rhizomatous roots, while sexual reproduction occurs via windborne sources. Plants may reach heights of 2 to 4 feet and spread via colonies.

The plant develops rosettes in the middle to late spring as it emerges from its rhizome. Once that happens, it’ll start sending up new growth. In July and August, you could see its purple blossoms.

Control Tips

Weed killers can be used to eradicate Canada’s thistle. Bright sunny days are ideal for putting these to use.

11. Bindweed

Bindweed
Image Source: dengarden
Typehardy perennial
EdibleYes, leaves

The common term “field bindweed” refers to a perennial vine also known as “wild morning glory” or “creeping jenny” for its creeping, invasive nature.

This undesirable plant emerges in late spring and rapidly becomes a catastrophe throughout the warm months. Field bindweed is a noxious weed that spreads quickly and originates in Eurasia.

This plant’s rapid root development allows it to invade and consume the root systems of neighboring plants. Even at a depth of 14 feet, its roots are still visible. Plants are firmly established thanks to the secondary vertical sources produced by the lateral roots.

A field bindweed plant may have a radial spread of more than 10 feet in a growing season. Overwintering is possible without leaves because this massive underground network may live for up to fifty years under the earth.

Control Tips

You can kill bindweed with either boiling water or pesticides.

FAQ’s

Can you remove the weeds you see around your house by hand?

It would help if you had more than a handful of weeds before you could start hand-weeding. This method is beneficial for getting rid of weeds when they’re still young, vulnerable, and haven’t laid any seeds.

In what ways might weeds be recognized?

• Recognizing Weeds by Their Unique Traits
• Form, margins, and venation of leaves (branching pattern of leaf veins)
• The anatomy of a leaf (simple or compound)
• Leaf placement on the plant’s main stem.
• Leaves and other plant components may be hairy or hairless.
• Factors influencing the shape, hue, and size of a flower

If you could name the three types of weeds, what would they be?

Annuals – Weeds with a year or less life cycle are called annuals. Seeds are the sole means of reproduction for the vast majority. Some weeds have a lifespan of more than a year but less than two.

What kinds of weeds might you expect to see in New Jersey?

The following are some of the most frequent weeds in New Jersey:
• Crabgrass
• Purslane
• Lambsquarters
• Aster
• Pigweed
• Chickweed
• Dandelion
• Charlie creeps
• Canadian Thistle
• Bindweed

Which weeds are the worst, exactly?

Examples of some of the most challenging weeds to eradicate are:
• Ground ivy
• Poison ivy
• Burdock
• Canada Thistle
• Johnson Grass
• Mugwort
• Nutsedge

Conclusion

So that sums up all I know about the weeds that flourish in New Jersey. You may have recognized many of the weeds discussed in our earlier articles. No matter what kind of marijuana you’re dealing with, it’s always best to get a head start on eliminating them.

If you insist on cultivating any of these weeds, do it only in empty planters or a garden region; otherwise, completely free of other plants.

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