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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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Send corrections, suggestions, and comments to biehlj@purdue.edu