Home → Pests → Weeds
Weeds
A weed is a plant out of place, not intentionally sown, whose undesirable qualities outweigh its good points. Even crop plants can become weeds when they grow where they are not wanted. In contrast, a number of plants usually thought of as weeds may actually be helpful—in controlling erosion, serving as food for wild animals, birds or humans, or can be considered beautiful in their own right. Click through the photos below to learn about common weeds in Maine, including specific control measures for each. For additional non-chemical approaches, check out this Weed Control User Tool by the California Invasive Plant Council.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Help with Weed Identification
[Photos, left to right: (Canada thistle) John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org; (vetch) Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com; (morning glory) K. George Beck & James Sebastian, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; (purple loosestrife) John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org; (creeping charlie) Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org; (chickweed) Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org; (garlic mustard) David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org; (hairy galinsoga) Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org; (woodsorrel) Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org; (purslane) Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org; (sowthistle) Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org; (dandelion) Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org; (cypress spurge) Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org; (yellow nutsedge) Jeff Stachler, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org; (quackgrass) Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org; (crabgrass) Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org; (ragweed) Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org; (shepherd's purse) Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org; (lambsquarters) Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org; (pigweed) Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org; (plantain) Lynn Sosnoskie, University of Georgia, bugwood.org; (Asiatic bittersweet) Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org; (poison ivy) Catherine Herms, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org; (giant hogweed) Maine Department of Agriculture; (Japanese knotweed) Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org; (field horsetail) Gil Wojciech, Polish Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org; John Cardina, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org]