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Common chickweed is an invasive broadleaf winter annual that can produce several generations in a year, each weed flowering after 5 weeks of growth. Chickweed is capable of flowering throughout winter can produces around 2,500 reddish brown seeds. This weed can be seen to grow up to over 3-6 inches in the sun but can reach up to 18 inches in the shade. This weed forms a weak, shallow taproot that is fibrous.
HOW TO IDENTIFY
Common chickweed can be identified by its low spreading, dense patches of plants. Stems are forked and have lines of hairs down each side of it. Leaves are roughly egg-shaped with a pointy tip and are mostly hairless. Chickweed leaves are light green in color, spaced evenly along stem and are opposite from one another. Small, flowers with roughly 10 deeply-cut white petals bloom in opens clusters at the end of the weeds stem.
WHERE IT GROWS
Common chickweed favors well-watered areas and thrives in soil with a neutral pH and is high in nitrogen. This weed can grow in a wide variety of soils and environmental conditions. In areas where there is little to no competition from turf grass, the common chickweed can produce roughly 800 seeds per plant. This can result in an infestation for many years to come (after 7-8 years only about 95% of the seed bank will be depleted).
- NOTE: The good news is that the presence of this weed is an indication that your soil is rich with nutrients and this weed can be stopped with proper management practices.
GROWING SEASON
Seeds being to germinate from late summer to early fall and continue to grow throughout winter into early spring.
HOW TO MANAGE
If a lawn is infested with chickweed use a post-emergence herbicide in spring 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 early September, prior to chickweed 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 weeds out by hand since taproots are weak and shallow. Overall, the best prevention method for chickweed 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.
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Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
With a focus on providing sustainable manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions, Turf Care Supply has embraced the electric power market with the latest mobile equipment upgrades. Completed in June 2023, TCS received all deliveries of electric forklifts to all three manufacturing facilities, including Hatfield, MA, Martins Ferry, OH and Sebring, FL.
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