It's a terrible weed! Follow the advice above! Once the seeds are broadcast, you will have trouble ever getting rid of it. Ask me how I know! It grows and flowers almost year round, before you can get outside and pull them out.

Marcia

I can't quite zero in on the 2nd set. If no one ID's it here you could post it on this link Name That Plant Forum

Thanks for the ID on the first one.

Could the second one be Veronica serpyllifolia, Thymeleaf Speedwell?

I don't think so. But it's hard to say for certain because there is no scale in the photos. V serpyllifolia has quite small leaves - about 1/4 inch - like thyme in fact ;-)

Here are another couple pics with a tape measure for scale

OK, now I see that the leaves are pretty small. It could be the Veronica after all but I've never seen it with a reddish tinge. In person I could tell you straight off but in a photo it's harder to ascertain texture

1. We have had a warm winter and the hairy bittercrest is everywhere. I am constantly fighting this weed, mainly pulling it by hand. We have numerous flower beds and I always lose the battle. Two years ago we tried Preen in late summer which limited germination last spring. We thought we had a handle on it but we must have miss-timed the application of Preen last fall and coupled with the unseasonably warm winter it has gone crazy. Now the weather is too cold to go outside and it has already flowered and is going to seed. I have a few questions that I hope someone can help with....Is this truly an annual? When I break off the plant and leave the root behind will it regrow from that root again? What time of the year does it germinate in zone 5 and 6? Lastly, I've heard some people use a blow torch type tool to kill weeds. Other than not wanting to set the mulch on fire, what are the cons to such an approach for bittercrest?

It is bitterly cold today here too. If it were me I would dress appropriately and get out there and prevent them from spreading their seed.

It is an annual but can be biennial also. Why take a chance by breaking off the root - dig/pull them. I can't put an exact timing to germination since they seem to always be growing. I swear they will be growing under the snow ready to pop. I have seen them flowering as tiny plants, seedlings almost. You could try the blow torch but it really won't kill the root. Pull/dig and keep on it, I know I will be.