HELP!! what is this invasive weed? - Ask Extension
I em enclosing an invasive weed that has spread throughout my back yard gardens; I had it last summer also and carefully dug it all out with my soil k...
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HELP!! what is this invasive weed? #459208
Asked June 03, 2018, 2:57 PM EDT
I em enclosing an invasive weed that has spread throughout my back yard gardens; I had it last summer also and carefully dug it all out with my soil knife, but now it is back, thicker than ever!! What is it? How can I best get rid of it? Do you think I brought it in on free mulch I picked up at my compost center? I am enclosing a photo. I am very discouraged it is back as it is so labor intensive to dig out and all my digging did not help. Thank you for your help. Mary Coleman
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Your photo is too low resolution to clearly see the flower when enlarged. But I think you have Chick Weed. It is notoriously difficult to eradicate. See the following websites and compare with what you see. There is also information on its control.
1. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74129.html
2. https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/search?kw=Chick+weed
Hi Mary!
Thank you so much for getting back to me with your response so quickly! I went on your suggested website and unfortunately I think chickweed is exactly what I have! And...it has already flowered and probably spread more as I have not as yet been able to start to dig it out. The other part of my question was: do you think I brought it in on the free mulch I brought in from our local compost lot? I had more to put down this year, but will not put it down if you think it may be what brought the chickweed in in the first place. Thanks for your continued help! Mary I will start digging it out, but think I will have to start digging it out earlier in season next year.
Thank you so much for getting back to me with your response so quickly! I went on your suggested website and unfortunately I think chickweed is exactly what I have! And...it has already flowered and probably spread more as I have not as yet been able to start to dig it out. The other part of my question was: do you think I brought it in on the free mulch I brought in from our local compost lot? I had more to put down this year, but will not put it down if you think it may be what brought the chickweed in in the first place. Thanks for your continued help! Mary I will start digging it out, but think I will have to start digging it out earlier in season next year.
It is possible that it was transferred by the mulch, especially if you didn’t have it before. If it came from a compost pile, the chances are less likely because they get heated up and as the article stated one of the methods of control is solarization.
