Knowledgebase

weeds #679048

Asked January 12, 2021, 11:46 AM EST

So far this winter the weeds are doing well! Chickweed is one and others that like the weather. Is there a possibility I can use (judicially) some weed killers? I live near the bay. Dave

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

Hello Dave,

Yes, we are in the midst of cool-season weed growth; they sprouted in autumn and will begin flowering and seed set in spring (and perhaps during mild spells in winter). Those cool-season weed species which are annuals will die come late spring or when heat arrives in summer; those that are perennial tend to go dormant and may lose foliage but re-sprout in autumn.

Manual removal by hand or with weeding tools is best, but when herbicide is needed, application in autumn is most effective to prevent the population from germinating (with a pre-emergent) or establishing (with a post-emergent). Herbicide use this time of year will likely be ineffective due to slowed growth and the resiliency some Chickweeds show to herbicide exposure. If needed, waiting until more regularly-occurring mild weather arrives in early spring would probably be more efficient and effective for herbicide control. As always, make sure the weed in question is listed on the product label, and any directions regarding timing of application, temperature restrictions, and re-treatment interval are followed.

Smothering the population (or the seed bank) with mulch, a temporary layer of landscape fabric, or another living groundcover can be useful in garden beds, but if the weeds are in lawn, physical or chemical removal is more practical. Additionally, if these weeds are colonizing lawn, it indicates that the turf could use invigorating in some way - either greater sun exposure, soil improvements or amendments, overseeding, or fertilizer adjustments. In that case, we recommend viewing our pages on lawn care to see what approach is most applicable: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/lawns

Chickweed information page: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/common-chickweed

Common weeds gallery, sorted by type and season (listed for lawns, but they can appear in garden beds as well): https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/lawn-weed-id-and-management

Miri

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