Weeding 101

Updated 4/2026

Learn to identify and manage common invasive plants found in Minnesota yards and natural areas, and find out about new invaders on the horizon. This class topic is part of the Plant Biodiversity priority of the Master Gardener program. 

If you enjoyed this class, please join us for another. Current and upcoming classes are posted on our website. 

Class Handouts

• Slide Presentation (Slide print-out)

• Participant Class Handout

Related Handouts

• Giant Hogweed (MI State University Extension)

• Identifying Giant Hogweed (NY Dept of Environmental Conservation)

• Poison Hemlock (University of MN Extension)

• Wild Parsnip (University of WI-Madison Extension)

• Buckthorn: What you should know and what you can do (MN DNR)

• Invasive Plant Control: Buckthorns (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Book

• Marrone, T. (2017). Common Backyard Weeds of the Upper Midwest. Adventure Publications.

  
  

Online Resources

PRO-TIP: Write “site:edu" (or site:gov) before adding your search term "garden weeds" for research-based advice

• Is this plant a weed? (University of MN Extension)

• Weed ID & Management (University of WI-Madison)

• Virginia Tech Weed ID Guide

• University of MN Extension Ask A Master Gardener Tool

• Ramsey County Master Gardener Diagnostic Clinic

• MnDOT’s Minnesota Noxious Weeds

• Ramsey County Yard Waste Sites

• Minnesota Wildflowers: A field guide to the flora in MN

Smart phone apps

• iNaturalist

• Seek by iNaturalist