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Plants Growing In The Yard #744110

Asked April 13, 2021, 1:19 PM EDT

Good Day, In the past 14 years since inheriting my home from my late parents, I have noticed peculiar plants growing more widespread in the yard each Spring. See pictures #2 and #3. These plants grow in clumps that are taller than the grass. These clumps are spread throughout the front and back yard, and they have become so numerous. I was able to pull up one whole plant from some softer dirt. Picture #2 shows that there is a bulb at the bottom. The other ones that grow in the yard only come out partially when pulled. There is another plant with wider leaves that grows only in the front yard. See picture #1. There are also snowdrop flowers growing in several places throughout the front yard. I know that my parents planted many Fall bulbs in their front flower beds. Would those have spread under the grass? I am wondering if I should treat these plants growing in the yard (though there are so many right now) or let them go since they seem to eventually stop growing in late Spring/early Summer? Does their presence damage the grass by squeezing out growing space that the grass won't fill in? Thank you for your time and advice. Best wishes.

Kent County Michigan

Expert Response

Hello.  The plants have a head start if you have been watching them multiply for 14 years! I suspect the middle photo is a wild chive-is it kind of grayish green with some curl at the top? If it is wild chive it can be difficult to control and will take persistent hand pulling.  The other photos do not look like grassy weed and can be some of your parents’ spring flowers that have seeded about.  Since they go dormant as warmer weather arrives it is ok to leave them.  However, if you want them gone it will take hand pulling to get all the bulbs and baby bulbs to stop multiplying.  I hope this helps.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 15, 2021, 5:42 PM EDT

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