Q: I have a pesky weed which I don’t have any idea what it is. It feels “sticky” to the touch. I have dug up this weed and made sure no roots were left but it still came back to haunt me! Could you please identify it and give me some suggestions to control it?

A: You have catchweed bedstraw. It’s an annual weed that comes up from seed each year. The seed can remain dormant in the soil for several year so that’s why it never disappears.

If you pull it conscientiously every year it will eventually go away. Or use a landscape pre-emergent that contains dithiopyr (Preen Weed Preventer for Southern Gardens).

See also Organic Weed Killers