Totally non related to anything remotely TH post

CoilyGirl

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Okay so last year I pulled up buckets upon buckets of green onions and dandelions in my yard thinking that this year would be different. Fast forward to today as I'm driving out to go to the Y I see about 40 green onion tops sticking out of the grass and we are planning on having someone reseed our yard this Spring so I need those suckers GONE. Anyone know of anything I can do to eradicate future green onions short of pesticides on the lawn? I guess I have my work cut out for me today before I go do an actual workout. SIGGGHHHH.
 

Doubter in MD

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Okay so last year I pulled up buckets upon buckets of green onions and dandelions in my yard thinking that this year would be different. Fast forward to today as I'm driving out to go to the Y I see about 40 green onion tops sticking out of the grass and we are planning on having someone reseed our yard this Spring so I need those suckers GONE. Anyone know of anything I can do to eradicate future green onions short of pesticides on the lawn? I guess I have my work cut out for me today before I go do an actual workout. SIGGGHHHH.

By Heather Rhoades

Wild onions (Allium canadense) can be found in many gardens and lawns, and wherever they are found, a frustrated gardener is sure to be found nearby. These difficult to control weeds are the bane of many gardens, but with determination and a little hard work, you can get rid of wild onions once and for all.

Identification of Wild Onion Plants

Wild onion weeds grow in clumps and are typically found in flower beds or near difficult to mow areas, though they can also grow in lawn. Wild onions can be identified by their thin, waxy spear-like leaves. Wild onion is often confused with its close cousin, wild garlic. Wild onions have flat leaves while wild garlic has round leaves.

Wild onions grow from white bulbs. They will either spread by forming bulblets on their bulbs, creating larger clumps, or by seed, spreading the wild onion plants to other parts of the garden.



Wild onions are edible but only if they have not been treated with a chemical herbicide.

Methods to Get Rid of Wild Onions

Wild onion plants are difficult to control for two reasons.

First, because they grow from bulbs and bulblets, which break apart from each other easily, so it is difficult to remove an entire clump without leaving some roots behind.
Second, the thin waxy leaves make it difficult for herbicides to stick to the leaves and, even if it does, the wax makes it difficult for the herbicide to penetrate into the wild onion plant.
If ever there was a plant made to survive weed removal methods, wild onion weed is it.

For these reasons, wild onion control needs to be a done with a combination of methods. It is best to take steps to get rid of wild onions in the spring, before the plants have a chance to go to seed, or in the fall, which will weaken any surviving wild onion plants, making it more difficult for them to survive through the winter.

Killing wild onions starts with removing as much of the clump of wild onions as possible. Do not try to pull the clump of wild onions out of the ground. The small bulblets are designed to pull away from the mother plant when pulled, which leaves extra bulbs in the ground that will rapidly regrow. Instead, dig the clump out of the ground with a spade or a trowel. Throw the entire clump away. Do not try to shake excess dirt off back into the hole and do not compost. If you do, this will only respread the wild onion bulblets back into your garden.

The next step to kill wild onions is to treat the area with either a non-selective herbicide (like Round-up) or boiling water. Both boiling water and non-selective herbicide will kill any plant it touches, so keep this in mind in regards to surrounding plants.

After removing the wild onion plants, keep a close eye on the area and repeat the process if any new wild onions start to grow. Due to the hardy break-away bulblets, you can expect that they will grow back at least one time.

If you are unable to treat the area or are keeping the wild onion plants as an edible, keep the plants trimmed (higher for growing as an edible and near the ground if unable to treat as described). This will prevent the wild onion from spreading to other parts of your yard through seeds.
 

Doubter in MD

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Howard Garrett

Wild Onions
I have had luck and others have reported success killing them with kindness. Mow, clip or pull as often as you can and apply a heavier than normal application of dry molasses. Use about 10 lbs per 1000 sq ft and repeat in two weeks. The mixed products that contain molasses, cornmeal and wheat bran will also help. The idea here is to stimulate a furious level of biological activity aimed at rotting the crowns of the undesired plants.
 

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CoilyGirl

CoilyGirl

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Thanks so much for your help! Hopefully I did dig them out properly(with my dandelion prong) I think last year I waited too long.
 

SusanMN

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Good luck with the weedy onions. I don't have those but I fight all summer against the creeping Charlie that wants to creep from the neighbors yard to mine.
 

Doubter in MD

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I have a creepy neighbor whose name is Charlie and I have trouble keeping him in his yard. I guess that's not the same thing.
 

Limitool

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Since I know everything (tonight) here's what ya do lady.... Do the above idea of the boiling water. You and mister get your morning shower out of the way and then crank up the hot water heater to max. Go get a L O N G rubber garden hose and hook up to it (water heater). When water heater is screaming for mercy turn on the facet and give each plant a good spring "warm up".

This serves two purposes also. First, it gets rid of the onions (if hot water works) and second... you purge the water heater. When was the last time you cleaned it out????

Ok girl.... I'm heading back to barn or going to dig more horseshoes... let's move on. I got dogs to take care of mine... (don't ask)!!!! ........... Brad
 

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CoilyGirl

CoilyGirl

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Since I know everything (tonight) here's what ya do lady.... Do the above idea of the boiling water. You and mister get your morning shower out of the way and then crank up the hot water heater to max. Go get a L O N G rubber garden hose and hook up to it (water heater). When water heater is screaming for mercy turn on the facet and give each plant a good spring "warm up".

This serves two purposes also. First, it gets rid of the onions (if hot water works) and second... you purge the water heater. When was the last time you cleaned it out????

Ok girl.... I'm heading back to barn or going to dig more horseshoes... let's move on. I got dogs to take care of mine... (don't ask)!!!! ........... Brad
This sooo sounds like something we would do!(picture not Lucy and Ethel but Lucy and Ricky)
 

pepperj

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Sounds like you have the makings for a good salad. :)
 

Higgy

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I think CG should make some dip and we can drop by with some chips.
 

Higgy

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...and beer.
 

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