It is late summer, otherwise known as tickle grass time. Its grassy seed heads seemingly pop up overnight and manage to cartwheel their way into every nook and cranny around the exterior of the house as well as the garden. They are a nuisance to a well-tended lawn, something some of us have yet to perfect.

Another player in the late fall weed sweepstakes is the tenacious mallow. Tightly bunched and anchoredac with a muscled tap root, mallow thrives if disrespected. It can sully the best of grassy areas. In a recent wrestling match with a large mallow, it was a surprise to discover something go...