Advice for weeding rain garden - Ask Extension
This plant is growing in my rain garden (2018). It is growing around the Pennsylvania Sedge. It has a little yellow bloom that is not in focus. I pull...
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Advice for weeding rain garden #634597
Asked May 12, 2020, 3:35 PM EDT
This plant is growing in my rain garden (2018). It is growing around the Pennsylvania Sedge. It has a little yellow bloom that is not in focus. I pulled off a piece and brought it inside for a better picture - 3rd one.
Is this plant invasive?
Should I remove it from the rain garden?
Thanks
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
This looks like Indian mock strawberry, a weed. See our website for more information.
There are No easy answers. You will have to decide if you want to keep it, as it can be considered somewhat of a groundcover if you need to stabilize the soil. All depends how manicured you want the rain garden to be. https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/indian-mock-strawberry
The least toxic way to remove is to hand dig when the soil is moist and you may have to do this multiple times during the season. If you want to use an herbicide look for a systemic herbicide that contains triclopyr (brush killer) or glyphosate. Protect desirable foliage by painting the product on. Follow label directions.
Marian
There are No easy answers. You will have to decide if you want to keep it, as it can be considered somewhat of a groundcover if you need to stabilize the soil. All depends how manicured you want the rain garden to be. https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/indian-mock-strawberry
The least toxic way to remove is to hand dig when the soil is moist and you may have to do this multiple times during the season. If you want to use an herbicide look for a systemic herbicide that contains triclopyr (brush killer) or glyphosate. Protect desirable foliage by painting the product on. Follow label directions.
Marian
Thanks. I am mainly concerned that it might kill (overrun) the penn sedge. Is that a valid concern?
Yes. It overruns everything. Indian strawberry (as in, from India) is a non-native invasive plant. We recommend that you remove it by hand immediately, and do not let it form fruits which have seeds. Otherwise, you will be battling it much more. They can be pulled easily by hand when soil is moist, just be sure to get the root.
Ellen
Ellen
Thanks. It was not too bad under the deck but it got in the rain garden and really got vigorous. I pulled out most of it. I will get the rest tomorrow. The blue container was full before it dried for a couple hours.
That's an impressive amount. Good work!
