How can I eradicate Lesser Celandine from my lawn?
by JZ
This ground cover is invading my lawn. I've called a lawn care company who sprayed the affected areas but tell me that there is no permanent solution. I've read that pouring vinegar on certain weeds can kill them, but have not tried this yet because about 1/2 of my entire lawn is affected
Suggested Project Book
Killing the roots is critical. What makes lesser celandine so difficult to get rid of is that it produces tubers under the ground. If you try to dig it up and miss a tuber or even break a tuber, the piece left in the ground can generate a new plant.
You’re not trying to kill the leaves, you’re trying to cook the roots.
Spread black plastic (not cardboard or newspaper) over the ground right away. The plastic will absorb heat. The soil needs to get hot a couple inches down. Keep the black plastic over the plants for a couple months.
You have to do it now while you can see the plants. The plants are spring ephemerals, which die down in the summer and will disappear.
Not a whole lot you can do to combat this stuff.
yes vinegar will work but probably at this stage need Glysophate like Round-Up. Yes Round-Up-------sprayed on leaves it's then absorbed into stems/stalk then into root system killng entire plant. Just follow safety instructions they are on label for a reason.Get good 2 gallon pump sprayer(not a back pack) and buy the concentrate,add food coloring to it so you can see where you are spraying,wear disposable gloves,do not spray in wind/slightest breeze,spray low down directly onto the leaves of each plant,do not get in wet solution,if you spill any dilute with water. Whenever you see new starts spray them asap before it gets out of control again.This will kill the invasive plants and the grass will recover. With the vinegar it might not,because you have to use it straight to kill it and it will kill grass too. there are other products with glysophate but Round-Up is best on market. Just use it to be rid of problem/invasive plants and then stop,just as with anything "moderation" and precaution.Yes it's hazardous & it's always been labeled so, if used correctly no more hazardous than all the cleaners,paints,strippers,pesticides,pet pest control(poor animals-we feed it to them and put it on their skin) ,herbicides, fertilizers well you get the picture... used every day everywhere. Oh & by the way the lawn care company ripped you off.I did landscaping/garden design install upkeep over 22yrs.
https://www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/tips-and-advice_how-to-control-lesser-celandine