Please help me identify this weed. I have several patches in the yard. And if you can identify, what should I do to eradicate it?

http://tinypic.com/4npxk
http://tinypic.com/4npu9

The pics may not be the best but please try.

gjhood,

The resolution on the monitor I'm using isn't that great, so I may be completely off on this. Is it a low growing, wide spreading, deep green, wiry, stiff textured plant producing tiny flowers? When you pull it, does it have a single tap root while the plant itself is saucer to platter sized?

Yes that is it. Although it is not deep green in my yard. But the description does fit.

I don't know what it is, but we had it also & not wanting to use toxic sprays & at that time not knowing dirtdocs sprays, we pulled it after every rain when it was easy (usually) & it was gone in one Fall.
Patty

I believe the plant is an Aster plant (or in that family). I have it and, as Patty stated, pulling it after a rain is easy. I will say that I have had only marginal control after pulling piles of the stuff; which only seems to occur in my front yard. It is one weed I don't spray. It does have nice flowers, though not really showy enough to earn a permanent spot. My main complaint is it's rough texture which isn't barefoot friendly.

This plant has been discussed on the forum before, you might try a search and see what else you find.

Does this stuff turn black during the summer or at any point and spread like nobody's business? Are the flowers tiny daisey-like blooms in a faint lilac color?

I seem to remember it would flower like a tiny daisy & the leaves would get almost black. the main root was waaaay deep. it would shoot off & make other big roots. (It may have been lite lavendar-been too long ago that I had it)
Patty

I forgot what this is called. Tony M would know. It is a very invasive weed that you should pull up ASAP because it will spread like wildfire. Be sure and put compost in spots that are bare after pulling it up. Vehicle tires often disburse this weed from place to place.

Nadine took a long shot by thinking I might know this but by golly, I think I do.
I've always called this plant a roadside astor but the real name is annual astor. It is the most abundant astor occuring in the state. Annual Astor is common in lawns, blooming profusely from August-December even when mower quite short.
Tony M

Tony! That is it! I tried to find your reply to a post from about a year ago describing this noxious weed, but became impatient after 15 pages in to my search.

Thanks for all of your help. I have pulled and pulled without much success. It is now Mid March and I am planning on tilling the entire yard, putting down some new sod and hope for the best.