Chickweed

Symptoms

Chickweed is a tenacious weed that can grow quickly and form thick mats, which smother nearby plants.

Find it on: all over the garden

Time to act: all year

Problem categories

Overview

Chickweed, Stellaria media, is best thought of as a delicious rather than a pernicious weed. Its young leaves are packed with vitamins, so it makes a healthy addition to salads. However, it can also harbour greenfly and spider mite, so remove it immediately if it appears in your greenhouse.

Solution

Chickweed is a tenacious weed that can grow quickly and form thick mats, which smother nearby plants.

Organic

Hand weed or hoe out seedlings as they appear, or smother them with a good layer of compost or mulch. The most effective control is to remove the plants while they're seedlings.

Chemical

Use a total weedkiller, such as glyphosate. Avoid spraying on a windy day, or when the weed's near other desirable plants.

Discuss this problem

Talkback: Chickweed

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kaycurtis 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I have been inundated with chick weed brought in in bags of bought compost, I know this as being right as I used to tend my Aunties window box with the same make soil and the window box in no time was smothered in chick weed.

Amanda_Plant 24/11/2011 at 15:29

Chickweed is edible. I use it as a basis for salads throughout the year. In fact, it is only really absent from my garden in January. The flavour is bland (similar to lettuce) and it will save you a fortune in salad leaves. It is also better for you. The young seedlings or tips of older plants are best.

vashte 24/11/2011 at 15:29

I belive the best way to get rid of chick weed is to pull them with the roots and take it to the tip .That way the seeds dont fall back in the beds and regrow .