This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophia Latorre. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
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Chickweed, or stellaria media, is a common winter annual found all across the United States. Chickweed has white flowers and small, egg-shaped leaves. If this pesky plant has infiltrated your lawn, your best bet is to kill it with chemical weed killer and maintain the grass to keep it from growing back. If you’ve got patches of chickweed in your garden, you can kill it with vinegar or herbicide, then hand-pull the weeds, till the soil, and spread mulch to keep it from re-emerging.
Steps
Eradicating Chickweed in Lawns
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1Apply a pre-emergent weed killer in September. Select a pre-emergent weed killer designed to get rid of chickweed from your local lawn and garden store or online. Pre-emergent weed killer should be applied to the entire lawn, and is generally sprayed over the grass. Follow the package instructions to determine how much to use.[1]
- Do not use pre-emergent weed killer if you have yet to seed your lawn, as it may prevent your grass from sprouting.
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2Apply a post-emergent weed killer in the spring. Choose a broadleaf weedkiller formulated for chickweed from a home and garden center or online. Once you see chickweed growing in your yard, treat problem areas by spraying them with the weed killer. To find out how much to apply, refer to the instructions on the package.[2]
- Newly-seeded lawns should be cut at least 3 times before applying post-emergent weed killer in order to protect the young grass.
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3Keep your grass cut to 4 inches (10 cm) or less. Chickweed grows 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) tall and needs seeds to reproduce. Cutting your grass frequently to keep it short will prevent the chickweed from going to seed and spreading throughout your property.[3] Use a sharp mower blade to keep your grass as healthy as possible and don’t cut it when it’s wet.[4]
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4Water the lawn deeply and infrequently. Rather than providing small amounts of water to your lawn often, provide large amounts of water less often to help get rid of chickweed.[5] Water the lawn down to the root zone, and wait to see signs of dehydration before watering again.[6]
- Signs of dehydration include wilting or grayish grass and grass that holds a footprint for more than a few minutes.
Removing Chickweed in Gardens
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1Spray patches of chickweed with vinegar or herbicide. If you prefer a simple solution, use distilled white vinegar. Put it in a clean spray bottle and spray it directly on the patches of chickweed throughout your garden, making sure to coat the entire plant. Reapply the vinegar once a week until the chickweed is gone. Alternatively, you can buy an herbicide, like glyphosate, from your local garden center. Refer to the package for application instructions.[7]
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2Pull out the chickweed by hand. After the vinegar or herbicide has killed the chickweed, grip the chickweed at the base of the plant and pull it out of the soil. If you have difficulty, raking the area may make the job easier. Place the chickweed in a bag before disposing of it to prevent the seeds from spreading.[8]
- New, small plants may also be removed by hand, and the best time to pull them is before they flower.
- Wait until the soil is dry to prevent missed chickweed seeds from germinating in wet soil.
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3Till the soil. To reduce the likelihood of chickweed seeds taking root in your garden, till the soil. Remove all weed debris from your garden, then turn the soil over to a depth of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) with a rototiller or shovel.[9]
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4Spread 2 inches (5.1 cm) of mulch over your garden. Mulch reduces the amount of light that can reach weeds, making it an effective solution for controlling their growth. Choose an organic mulch, like wood chips or bark, and layer it at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep.[10]
- Alternatively, use a synthetic mulch like landscape fabric. Don’t remove the fabric until the colder months.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat are the benefits of taking chickweed?
Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistThere are a lot of reasons people take chickweed, including to treat constipation and stomach or bowel problems. It may also help with blood issues, lung disease, and even obesity.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionWhat kills creeping Charlie but not grass?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistYou want a herbicide that is focused on broadleaf. It has to contain triclopyr or dicamba in order to be effective.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionWhat part of chickweed is edible?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistThe raw leaves are used in salads and sandwiches. They are also common in some soups or stews. If cooked, the stems and flowers both can be used safely.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
References
- ↑ https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/dealing-with-common-chickweed/
- ↑ https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/dealing-with-common-chickweed/
- ↑ https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/dealing-with-common-chickweed/
- ↑ http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/lawns/hgic1207.html
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74129.html
- ↑ http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/lawns/hgic1207.html
- ↑ https://www.sharycherry.com/how-to-kill-chickweed/
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74129.html
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74129.html
About This Article
The best way to kill chickweed is to use a chemical weed killer and keep your lawn maintained so it doesn’t grow back. In the fall, apply a pre-emergent weed killer designed to get rid of chickweed before it takes root. Spray the weed killer over your entire lawn or garden. In the springtime, apply a post-emergent weed killer to your entire lawn or garden. For a natural herbicide, spray distilled white vinegar on patches of chickweed in your garden to kill them. You can also cut your grass frequently to keep it short and prevent the chickweed from going to seed and spreading. If you spot chickweed growing in your garden, spray an herbicide on it to keep it from spreading, and pull it out by hand when it dies by grasping it at the base of the plant. You can also spread a 2-inch layer of mulch over your garden to control the growth of chickweed. For tips from our Horticulturist co-author about how to till the soil to control chickweed, keep reading!
