Ragweed is a warm weather annual native to North America that typically grows in sunny sites. The pollen from ragweed causes hay fever and tends to crowd plants in gardens. Ragweed is usually recognizable by its deeply cut leaves. You can control ragweed growth by pulling up the young plants from the moist soil or spraying it with an organic herbicide containing clove oil or acetic acid. Another method is simply using a sharp hoe to destroy the pesky plant. When ragweed matures it begins to resemble a candelabra with its upright flower spikes. To reduce reseeding, once ragweed grows to this size use prunning loppers to cut them down.
Uprooting the ragweed is the most crucial part of reducing its growth. Most young ragweed can be pulled up, but if it is breaking off at the base, use a small tool to dig up the root. If you are going to use a herbicide you want to use one with natural ingredients. Eugenol, or clove oil, works best on ragweed. Citric acid or acetic acid also works well. Soap-based herbicides also do a good job of dehydrating leaves. When the soil is dry, using a hoe to destroy the weed is a good method. However, be careful to only hoe the top edge of the soil. Otherwise, you might injure the surrounding plants that you are trying to protect. Once you hoe, it is still necessary to remove the roots of the ragweed in order to ensure that it will not immediately reseed itself. Mowing your lawn regularly also helps to keep the weeds in your yard under control.