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Wild Garlic

Wild onion and wild garlic are both winter perennials. The leaves are waxy, upright and needle shaped growing 8-12 inches long. The leaves of wild garlic are hollow and round and have a strong odor. The leaves of wild onion are solid and flat and appear directly from the bulb. Both plants grow from underground bulbs. The membrane-coated bulbs of wild garlic are flattened on one side and have bulblets. Wild onion bulbs are white inside with a strong odor and are covered with a fibrous, scaly coat.

The white to light green flowers of wild garlic develop on short stems above aerial bulbs. Wild onion does not have a stem; white to pink flowers with six eliptical segments. Both wild onion and wild garlic spread by bulbs, seed and bulblets. Both plants flower from April through June.

Wild Onion Characteristics:

• Bulb has reticulated (net like) membrane or covering.

• Leaves occur from the base of the plant, and tend to be flat (not hollow).

Wild Garlic Characteristics:

• Leaves are hollow, and tend to be formed higher on the stem (not where stem comes out of the ground).

• Distinct garlic odor.

Control:

These plants are difficult to remove by hand and generally break off at the soil surface when trying to pull out by hand. Furthermore, garlic produces many underground bulblets that are difficult to remove when the plant is dug. A thick layer of mulch can help prevent the emergence of these plants in the garden beds.

If you resort to herbicides, there are a few good options. Two non-selective postemergent herbicides that can be used are Roundup. These herbicides can be used as a post-directed spray, making sure to keep the spray off other plants. Selective herbicides for turfgrass include metsulfuron methyl (Manor®), imazaquin (Image), imazapic (Plateau), and 2,4-D. These herbicides can be used safely over-the-top on most turfgrasses. All of these herbicides appear to control wild garlic. Be certain you read and understand the herbicide labels before applying any chemical.

TIP: When using these herbicides, it is best to use rubber gloves and dip a small scouring pad sponge int the herbicide and rub the sponge up the length of the plant. This causes minute scratches and allows the herbicide to penetrate the waxy layer.