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To clear your garden of "weeds", you do not have to resort to the easy way out by using chemicals. There are many organic methods out there that will work. One only needs to take the time to do so.
If vigilant, the best method of getting rid of "weeds" to date is getting on your hands and knees and digging the offending plants out. True it is work but gardens are just that -- work.
Before you reach for that chemical spray, etc., think about the long term effects of what you are doing. What if some of that nasty chemical finds its way into a stream, river, etc? What if it then killed something in said stream, river, etc? I guess as long as you have a lovely manicured lawn with nothing present that can detract from the flowing beauty of solid green, it doesn't really matter.
While your article brought to light common weeds, it would have been more helpful if you would have spoke of the best alternative organic methods of eradication. Perhaps even suggesting letting a dandelion or two grow. Are they THAT horrible? Some of the best lawns I have seen have many things growing in them -- daisies in the spring and summer, crocuses in the late winter, etc. I offer a photo to prove my point.
I promote IPM, I wrote an article on it awhile back.
Some of the weeds such as bind weed actually multiply more when pulled as you break off the roots and thus create more plants. Follow IPM practices if at all possible.
My criticism against herbicides was not directed toward you. It was to all gardeners in general. What constitutes a weed and control of plants deemed as weeds can be hotly contested topics.
Your article is good in that it brings to light common plants that if not controlled can cause problems in the garden. Bindweed can be a serious problem. This is true. For this, I personally recommend a weed burner. If you can keep the top growth gone long enough, the roots will eventually die. It can be an arduous process but eventually you will have success.
I am completely organic and the thought of chemicals added to any part of my garden makes me shudder.
Thistle can be a bear to deal with. Young plants do pull easily. I found this out because I intentionally grew Scottish Milk Thistle. Never again though. One plant became a monster and I did not enjoy removing it (or its children). The numerous cuts and scrapes taught me a valuable lesson on trying to grow this plant. I consider myself fortunate.Once the plant was cut down to a managable size, it pulled right out. I saw no traces of any roots at all. I realize Canada Thistle would be different.
I performed a search and found a good site. There is some interesting methods of biological control for serious infestations. Otherwise, good advice is offered on how to remove the plant. Here is the link I found: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/thistlecontrol.html
I just re-read my original reply. I did not mean to come across as holier than thou. As gardeners, we are the advertising target for what will make our task easy -- particularly insect and weed control. Some of the products out there are so incredibly awful. My wish in what I wrote is that people will think of an alternative before reaching for those chemicals.
Case and point. My neighbor thinks I am nuts. I have an HOA and to avoid letters, I stay on top of the weeds. I spend hours on my hands and knees and she comes out and just sprays away and tells me I am making life hard for myself. Because I hate those sprays SO much, I now pull up her weeds in exchange for her giving me the chemicals for proper disposal.
Benny, I can remember the days ['40s] when Uncle Jack was fighting patches of Canada Thistle in a field. He would disc or plow those suckers. Course, the thistles won. I do believe that without chemical control in the fields of the larger farming states that Canada Thistles would likely cover nearly entire fields by now..it is that pervasive since Uncle Jack's fighting days.
I have discovered that pouring pure white vinegar, full stregth, onto difficult weeds has been a marvellous weed killer. I don't know what it will do to the thistle but I would try it before using any more chemicals! Buy a couple of gallons and see how it works! It has worked on pleanty of weeds for me! Good lick!
