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Field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis, is a pretty, white-flowering climber loved by butterflies. However, it's a pernicious weed that will smother anything in its path, and will quickly take over beds, borders, walls and fences unless kept in check

. It spreads by sprouting from thick, woody rhizomes, and can grow 1.2m in one season. Winter is the only time of year that offers a reprieve, but for the rest of the year it's a plant that needs tough handling as soon as it appears. This weed is especially

Field horsetail is also known as marestail. Once established, it has roots that extend to 2m deep, and spreads by means of creeping rhizomes. The plant produces light-brown stems in late spring, topped with cone-like structures

, in the worst case scenario, lift the turf and replace it.In lawns, you can get rid of the weed using a lawn weedkiller, such as a 2, 4-D-based herbicide. Apply it in cool, moist and calm weather when there's least risk of accidentally spraying nearby garden

Clover, most commonly Trifolium repens, is a perennial weed with shamrock-like leaves and fragrant white flowers. It colonises gardens and lawns using runners that fix into the ground, and competes with other plants for space to grow. Once it

Mind-your-own-business, Soleirolia soleirolii, is a creeping perennial with tiny flowers and leaves. The branching stems root as they spread, forming a dense mat of foliage that few plants can grow through. The plant will soon take hold on any soil

Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) is a tenacious perennial weed that loves lawns and will stick close to the ground in order to survive even the closest mowing - it will even flower on 3cm-high flower spikes to ensure survival of its species. It spreads

.Yarrow is fairly resistant to many selective weedkillers, but in lawns, use a weedkiller such as a 2, 4-D-based herbicide to remove the weed. Apply in cool, moist, calm conditions when there is least risk of accidentally damaging nearby garden plants.all over

Monty Don explains the benefits of hand weeding, demonstrating how to keep unwanted weeds at bay.all year round, particularly springMore advice on dealing with weedsHow to hoe effectivelyMaintaining a healthy lawnDealing with brambles

place after dandelions and horsetail), and bindweed came 2nd to dandelions in northern England. Full results of our survey of weeds and other garden problems can be found in the August 2009 issue of Gardeners' World Magazine.