Wild onion and wild garlic are now fully emerged throughout the state of Indiana and these are two of the more difficult to control weeds. Like the garden varieties, these plants are edible and similar looking, except the stems of the wild type are much thinner and do not grow as tall as the garden varieties. These weeds also form bulbs like the garden varieties, and it is from these bulbs that the weeds emerge primarily in the fall and to a lesser extent in the early spring. The most effective method for controlling onion and garlic is to create a dense turf through proper fertilization and regular mowing, thereby making these weeds less noticeable and less problematic. Selective chemical control is difficult, but many of the three-way herbicides containing 2,4-D are most effective. The waxy leaves prevent herbicide penetration, so mowing just prior to application is often suggested. This will usually burn back the leaves but may not kill the underground bulb, thus multiple years of applications will be needed. The best advice is to mask wild onion and garlic with frequent mowing in the spring. This combined with warming
temperatures will make these weeds seemingly disappear in the next few weeks.
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