Like many weeds, chickweed can seem to conquer your garden or lawn when it begins to grow. New chickweed plants can grow from even the smallest bit of chickweed root, meaning that even if you thought you rid yourself of this pesky plant, it can return unexpectedly to haunt your garden. Killing all of the chickweed in your garden or lawn is the only way to ensure that it will not return to ruin your beautiful plants and flowers. Does this Spark an idea?

Remove as much chickweed as possible by pulling it up or digging it out of the soil with a shovel or hoe. Chickweed has relatively shallow roots and is easy to pull out of the ground, but remember that even the smallest bit of remaining root can grow more chickweed.

Chickweed is a common name for plants in the Stellaria genus of the Caryophyllaceae flower family. The plant can be found in gardens and landscapes throughout North America, and its hardy nature makes it a pest for many gardeners. Commercial weed killers can kill chickweed but often depend on toxic chemicals. Learn how to kill chickweed using organic weed killer and natural weed control methods to remove the plant without compromising your yard’s natural health. Does this Spark an idea?

Spray the chickweed with an organic herbicide. Coat the chickweed evenly from its base to the top of the plant. For best results, spray during the morning after the morning dew has evaporated. Most organic weed killers use a blend of natural citrus acids to dehydrate and kill plants. Example products include Nature’s Avenger’s Organic Weed & Grass Killer, St. Gabriel Labs’ Burnout Weed & Grass Killer, and Nature’s Wisdom’s Natural Weed Control. Purchase at nurseries, garden supply stores, some health food stores, and online retailers.

There are several varieties of chickweed, mouse-ear and common chickweed, being the most prevalent. Chickweed is a hardy annual that reseeds itself, and except for areas with deep winter freezing, it can survive over winter like a perennial. Regardless of the type of chickweed that has invaded your yard, the methods to removing it are the same for all varieties. Does this Spark an idea?

Chickweed can grow in almost any type of soil, and seems to thrive when the soil has been disrupted or cultivated. Because of chickweed’s shallow root system, hand pulling or hoeing the weed is very effective, particularly if done before the chickweed develops seeds. But if all of the root system is not removed, the weed can regrow. Pouring boiling water on the plant will kill the entire plant. Chemical weed killer formulated for chickweed, applied by following the instructions on the label, can also be used (see Resources). In order to completely rid your garden of chickweed, you must prevent the germination of seeds. Apply pre-emergent to your garden in early spring, and continue applications throughout the growing season, with a final application in late fall. Pre-emergent in the soil will stop seeds from germinating. It does not discriminate between weed seeds and garden seeds, so discontinue several weeks before you plant your garden seeds, and continue when your seeds sprout. Corn gluten is natural, effective pre-emergent.