Wild carrot/Queen Anne's Lace

This noxious weed has taken over my vegetable garden. I believe it's wild carrot? I can't pull it out as the root is crazy big. Other than digging it out of both my vegetable beds, I don't know how to get rid of it or prevent it. I don't want to use chemicals as this is a veggie garden. Even the extreme cold won't kill this stuff.
  12 answers
  • Jerry Murray Jerry Murray on Feb 07, 2016
    Turn it over and take advantage of the nutrients
  • Without chemicals - you buy thick black plastic (9mil or thicker) and cover the area for the sun to 'cook' the weed seeds and the plants. I would start now and in full sun by the time you are ready to garden you may have had tiime to cook the soil. Weed seeds can stay dormant for years. Good luck
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 07, 2016
    You will have to smother them out with heavy black plastic. If the ground is soft enough I would turn it over as soon as possible to get a jump start before the weeds take over even more.
  • Taffetal Taffetal on Feb 07, 2016
    That is a lovely ground cover - in the right place, like between flat stones on walkways, etc. Sell it!
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Feb 07, 2016
    Touching Giant Hogweed, which is similar in appearance, can cause severe burns, blisters and blindness.
  • M M on Feb 07, 2016
    I used a dandelion weed remover to remove the QA Lace that was growing in my yard. You can also add layers of newspaper instead of black plastic with the added benefit of the paper composting into the soil.
    • @M the idea of black plastic is to cook and kill the weed seeds. newspaper works great but she needs to kill the weed seeds that probably have been there for years and now since the soil has been disturbed are now germinating. using layer on newspapers when she plants her garden would be great for the soil and for weed control
  • Victoria Howard Victoria Howard on Feb 07, 2016
    I just pull them out or dig 'em up. We have tons of it too. I leave some, as I think it's pretty. It's wild carrot here, REAL QA Lace is supposed to have a bit of red on the underside, purporting to be a drop of Queen Anne's blood.
    • B. Enne B. Enne on Feb 09, 2016
      @Victoria Howard and hairy stalks: ''The Queen has hairy legs." :)
  • Kar4453348 Kar4453348 on Feb 07, 2016
    WARNING --- Just a word of caution --- the Poison Hemlock is a Queen Anne's Lace look-a-like but it is POISON and will cause paralysis and death if eaten. The main difference between the two is the leafstalk on the Poison Hemlock is hairless, however, Queen Anne's Lace stalks are hairy.. Also the Poison Hemlock is ill-scented when bruised, Queen Anne's Lace's white root smells like a carrot.
  • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Feb 08, 2016
    Does anyone know the correct botanical name for this... What I know called Queen Annes Lace is 4 feet tall.
    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 08, 2016
      @Duval.26 I am not sure if this is correct but Daucus carota is what I found.
  • Conniesampson16 Conniesampson16 on Feb 08, 2016
    I have a field of it and cold doesn't help a bit! This has survived years of as much as 52 degrees F below zero.. It dies back and grass takes over to become a lawn each year. I love it as memories of my childhood on grannie's farm. Meanwhile - try really dousing it with vinegar or boiling water. I brush weed killer onto weeds with a paint brush when I feel I need to use a chemical.
  • Dorothy Dorothy on Feb 09, 2016
    Vinegar and salt at the root base should kill the stuff.
  • DORLIS DORLIS on Feb 09, 2016
    i AM BATTLING IT AS i USED BAGS OF GARDEN SOIL THAT WERE FULL OF WEED SEED INCLUDING qUEEN ANNE'S LACE. IT IS PRETTY, BUT ALL THOSE SEEDS. FIRST THING IS TO PULL THE YOUNG PLANTS, WHEN IT MATURES, IT HAS A DEEP TAPROOT. VINEGAR AND DAWN AT THE ROOT DOES THE TRICK MOST OF THE TIME. YOU MAY NEED ANOTHER DOSE TO FINISH IT OFF.