The cudweeds are comprised of many different species that are similar in growth habits and control measures. In general, the cudweeds have basal rosettes and the leaves and seedheads are covered in distinct fine, white “wooly” fibers. Some cudweeds only have this hair on the underside of the leaves, and other cudweeds have this hair on all surfaces. Cudweeds overwinter as small basal rosettes, but in the spring usually grow an upright stem.

Dandelion is a European native perennial plant whose low spreading, deeply notched leaves form a rosette pattern as they emerge from a weak central tap root. It closely resembles endive in form and in cultural requirements. The hollow flower stalks form a single compound flower of many golden colored florets. Like chicory, varieties differ in leaf shape, ranging from very curly leaved to broad leaved.

Although nutsedges resemble grasses and often are referred to as “nutgrass,” they aren’t grasses but are true sedges. Their leaves are thicker and stiffer than most grasses and are arranged in sets of three at their base; grass leaves grow across from each other in sets of two. Nutsedge stems are solid, and in cross section they are triangular; grass stems are hollow and round, and in cross section they are almost flat or oval. Nutsedge has three long, leaflike bracts at the base of each flower head. Yellow nutsedge has light brown flowers and seeds.

White clover is a perennial with creeping stems rooting at some nodes. Leaves have three leaflets with a long erect petiole that is surrounded at the base by a membranous sheath. The flowering heads are borne on long stalks from the stems and usually rise above the leaves. The flower cluster may be 1/2 to 11/2 inches in diameter. The petals are white.

Both are winter perennials, with wild garlic being predominant in South Carolina. They emerge in late Fall from underground bulbs and grow through the Winter and Spring. In late Spring, aerial bulblets are formed and the plants die back in early Summer. The underground bulb persist in the soil for several years. While both have thin, green, waxy leaves, those of wild garlic are round and hollow, while those of wild onion are flat and solid. Unfortunately, there are no pre-emergence herbicides that will control wild onion or wild garlic. They must be treated with a post-emergence herbicide, and persistence is the key.