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Weed of the Week: Hairy Bittercress

May 31, 2017

Weed of the Week: Hairy Bittercress

May 31, 2017
seeding hairy bittercress side view white flowers

TYPE

Hairy bittercress is an annual spring or winter invasive broadleaf weed. During its life cycle, it has the ability to produce and explosively scatter large amounts of its seeds from siliques (long, slender seed pods that form by the flower of the plant). This weed can reach up to 4-12 inches tall. This weed forms a long, deep taproot that can be difficult to pull if not removed in early stages of growth.


HOW TO IDENTIFY

Hairy bittercress appears as a small, flat rosette of leaves that has delicate, four-petal white, flowers at the end of green, wiry stems. Leaves consist of 2-4 leaflets that are alternately arranged around the stem. Lower leaves tend to be larger and hairier then the leaves up at the top.

  • NOTE: Notice the long, slender seed pods forming by the flowers.

WHERE IT GROWS

Hairy bittercress favors wet, shaded areas as well as areas were lawn is mowed too short. As temperatures increase, this weed’s appearance reduces. Bittercress thrives in all soil types, including nutritious or poor soil.
GROWING SEASON:
Hairy bittercress prolifically sets seed in early spring when the soil is cool and moist, typically germinating in May through September. It can also withstand frost conditions so if not removed, can survive throughout winter and appear again in the spring. 
  • NOTE: This weed can persists through winter and depending on this weeds life cycle stage, it can be seen to have a dull purplish look (cold, harsh winter) or a more green look (mild winter).
Hairy Bittercress Flowers Beginning to Blooming
HOW TO MANAGE
The seeds are located in the flowering portion of the bittercress, so to avoid dispersion and infestation it is best to remove right away before it gets to this growth stage. You can remove by hand or garden tool but because the slightest disturbance can release and spread the seeds it may be best to apply a post-emergence herbicide when the weed is actually growing. It’s important to understand that for optimum post-emergent control, apply product to actively growing, immature weeds; more than one application may be needed. To fight this invasive weed before an infestation, apply a pre-emergent herbicide in late summer/early fall, prior to bittercress germination.
  • NOTE: If you apply a pre-emergent in fall, you’re unable to plant grass seed since pesticides inhibit seed germination, including new grass seed. For cases where the invasion is less severe, pull weed out by hand since taproots are weak and shallow. Overall, the best prevention method for hairy bittercress and any invasive weed is to maintain healthy, dense turf with a strong root system by adopting a regular lawn care routine including fertilization, soil amendments, proper mowing and watering as well as aeration and thatch management practices.
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
 
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service to find a distributor near you.
References:
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/lawns/lawn-weed-identification
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/hairy_bittercress_a_weed_to_watch_out_for
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=782
http://marinmg.ucanr.edu/Marin_Master_Gardener_Help_Desk/Leaflet/d/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/hairy-bittercress-control.htm
http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Cardamine+hirsuta
http://identifythatplant.com/hairy-bittercress-cardamine-hirsuta/

Photos:
Photo Credits: Andreas Rockstein | Flickr

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