Getting rid of Wild Parsnip - Ask Extension
This has over taken a fairly isolated area about 20'X20' that was previously mostly full of lovely Sweet Pea and Milkweed that the butterflies love. S...
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Getting rid of Wild Parsnip #772568
Asked September 21, 2021, 3:09 PM EDT
This has over taken a fairly isolated area about 20'X20' that was previously mostly full of lovely Sweet Pea and Milkweed that the butterflies love. Should have pulled in early summer, but only recently discovered it was a toxic invasive. About 4' tall now. Tried pulling in early September when still green, but very difficult to get tap root out (for me...small female). Now brown and heads have seeds. What to do? Wait until next summer? Try again to pull? Herbicide (am organic gardener)? Flame thrower? PS We are summer residents only.
Cheboygan County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Penny -
I found a link for you, but I'm not sure how helpful it will be.
http://livestocktrail.illinois.edu/pasturenet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=8145
From that link, I discovered that "Queen Anne's Lace" or wild carrot/parsnip is a biennial plant. It forms a rosette of leafs the first year, and the second year it flowers, then dies. Since you are an organic gardener, I wonder if perhaps you could put down some product that stops germination in early spring, before the seeds being dispersed now would germinate. A product such as Preen might help if applied before these seeds germinate.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/ask-the-expert-pre-emergent-herbicides
I hope this gave you some ideas on how to control this weed.
Good luck!
~Denise Nash, Master Gardener
I found a link for you, but I'm not sure how helpful it will be.
http://livestocktrail.illinois.edu/pasturenet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=8145
From that link, I discovered that "Queen Anne's Lace" or wild carrot/parsnip is a biennial plant. It forms a rosette of leafs the first year, and the second year it flowers, then dies. Since you are an organic gardener, I wonder if perhaps you could put down some product that stops germination in early spring, before the seeds being dispersed now would germinate. A product such as Preen might help if applied before these seeds germinate.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/ask-the-expert-pre-emergent-herbicides
I hope this gave you some ideas on how to control this weed.
Good luck!
~Denise Nash, Master Gardener
Thanks for responding. I'm not sure how I could protect the beneficial plants like the sweet peas and milkweed if I'm distributing something like Preen or corn gluten meal (which I have used previously) really early. Also, as we are summer residents and don't arrive until the very end of May, not sure how far along everything will be at that point and we may be past the "pre-emergent" stage.
As it's a biennial though, next year it should be back at the smaller rosette stage, so maybe that will make it easier to apply some topical herbicide.
But again, thanks. Thinking about it. May have to wait and watch.
Hi again -
Using Preen would not hurt your sweet pea or your Milkweed. Both those plants are perennials, they come back every year. Preen or Corn Gluten Meal are used to prevent seeds from germinating, which would stop your weed seeds from sprouting. I wonder if you put some down before you leave your place for the winter if that would work? Hmmm.
Good luck,
~Denise Nash, Master Gardener
Good points and think I will try to put down Preen this week as it will at least make me feel like I'm doing something. Although undergrowth is fairly heavy over the whole area so may have to wade in (see original photos). Thanks again for your help.
