Dandelions

• The dandelion is one of the most common weeds in any yard. It's known for its jagged leaves and colorful flower. In the spring and early summer, the dandelion grows a bright yellow, sphere-shaped flower. Later into the summer, the flower turns into a white, cottony seed pod. When a gust of wind hits the dandelion, the seeds blow through the air and begin to grow elsewhere. This is why dandelions are so hard to control. Perhaps the one saving grace to this yard pest is that its leaves are edible.
  
  

Plantain

• A plantain weed is almost as common as a dandelion in North America. Its leaves are green, oval shaped, contain small ridges and grow between 2 and 10 inches in length. The plantain is a perennial, meaning that in climates with snow, it lies dormant over the winter months and grows again in the spring. This weed has tall stalks of buds throughout much of the summer.
  
  

Ragweed

• Seventeen different species of ragweed grow in North America, and this weed is a nuisance for people who are allergic to it. Because it favors large areas and a location near water, you might have this menace in your yard if you have a sizable field and a stream on your property. Ragweed can grow up to 6 feet in height, and each plant is capable of releasing 1 billion grains of pollen into the air.
  
  

Others

• Though dandelions, plantains and ragweed are extremely common, your yard may also suffer from additional common North American weeds. Other weeds that may grow in your yard are chick weed, ground ivy, sorrel and spurge. Chick weed has tiny green leaves and white flowers, and ground ivy often covers the ground in shady areas. Sorrel features three leaves shaped like hearts that's similar to clover -- while spurge grows tall like ragweed and sprouts yellowish leaves and buds.