How to Get Rid of Onions in My Yard
Wild Onion Control: How To Get Rid of Wild Onions
This page is an expert guide on getting rid of Wild Onion from your property using the products and methods suggested by our experienced lawn care specialists. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee you will be successful in eliminating Wild Onion.
Garlic and onion may make great additions in the kitchen if you are cooking some Italian food, but on your lawn? Not so much. Wild Onion (and the very similar Wild Garlic) are two pesky weeds that are definitely a sight for sore eyes--and thats without chopping and dicing them.
Wild onions (Allium canadense) are relatives to the varieties of garlic and onions we buy from the grocery store but with a glaring difference; these winter perennials creep up usually where they are not wanted in flower beds or lawns.
Continue reading to learn more about Wild Onion and how you can remove it from you property using professional lawn care products and advice by Solutions Pest & Lawn lawn care experts.
Identification
Before proceeding with control methods, it's important to first properly identify the plant to confirm whether it is Wild Onion. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong herbicides, which will be ineffective against the weed, costing you time and money. Below are some identifying traits of Wild Onion.
- Wild onion (also known as Onion Grass) have white or faintly pink flowers that are star-shaped.
- They have long slender leaves that appear like thick grass blades and grow in tall clusters that can reach up to two feet long.
- Along with making your lawn look unsightly, Wild Onion comes with an equally off-putting smell.
- Wild Onion is often mistaken for Wild Garlic (and vice versa). The way to tell the difference is by looking at their leaves. Wild garlic leaves are more long, thin and hollow while Wild Onion has leaves that are flat, wide and long.
- Wild onions are invasive weeds that can reproduce themselves at an alarming rate. Wild Onion produces underground bulbs and also from seeds that are set from their blossoms which can potentially infest your lawn by popping up in more than one spot.
Use our description and image above to help you to identify Wild Onion on your lawn. If you are not totally sure and need assistance with identification, contact us and we will properly ID the plant for you as well as give you the best product recommendations to control your weed.
Inspection
After you have confirmed that you are dealing with Wild Onion, you should move on to Inspection to pinpoint the areas where the weed is growing and the conditions that is helping Wild Onion to thrive.
Where to Inspect
Wild Onions like to grow typically in flower beds or areas of the lawn that are hard to mow. As mentioned in the description, they like to grow in clumps. Look for it in backyards, roadsides, sidewalks, and similar areas.
What To Look For
Look for thick grass blades that are waxy to the touch and give off a strong onion smell.
Treatment
When you have discovered where the Wild Onion is growing you may think to just pull them or mow them and the problem is solved, right? Wrong.
Unlike other weeds which can be simply controlled by chopping, pulling or spraying, Wild Onions aren't willing to go away without some resistance. Mowing over the weed or pulling it from the garden will not affect the bulbs beneath the soil, and within just a few days the bulbs will simply bring forth new leaves.
Digging them out is a good option that is proven to work but could be a bit laborious, especially if you have a lot of them to deal with. The most effective way to eliminate them is via chemical control. Our top recommendation is 2,4-D Amine Selective Weed Killer.
Before handling or mixing any herbicide chemicals, please make sure you have the proper personal protective equipment on in the form of gloves, a safety mask and protective eyewear.
Step 1: Mix And Apply 2,4-D Amine
2,4-D is an effective selective weed killer labeled to treat Wild Onion. Selective means that it will only harm the target weed and not harm desired plants surrounding the weed.
Measure the square footage of the treatment area to determine how much 2,4-D you will need. 2,4-D Amine should be mixed with a gallon of water at the rate of 0.75 to 1 fl. oz. (1-1/2 to 2 Tablespoons) per 1,000 square feet. Mixing 2 4-D with a surfactant like Alligare 90 (at a rate of 0.33 fl. oz.) will help the product to stick better to the weed and make the herbicide work more effectively.
For example, if you have a 2,000 sq. ft. area to treat, you will need to mix 1.5 to 2 fl. oz. in 2 gallons of water. Once you have made your measurements and calculated how much 2,4-D you need, mix the product and surfactant with the appropriate amount of water in a handheld or backpack sprayer. Shake the sprayer to ensure the solution is well-mixed and then you're ready to spray.
When applying, change the nozzle set to a fan nozzle so it will spray a fine mist on the plant and get an even coating on the Wild Onion.
Wild Onion should ideally be treated during early fall to November and re-treated near the end of winter into early spring (February or early March) before these plants can produce the next generation of bulbs. However, be careful not to apply most weed killers onto centipedegrass or St. Augustinegrass during their spring green-up period. Inspect the lawn again in the spring and the next fall, and treat if necessary.
Prevention
Once you have eliminated Wild Onion from your lawn, you will need to implement some preventative measures which ensure that this stinky weed doesn't make a comeback.
Wild onions have thin leaves that can easily shed pre-emergent herbicides. They also have a waxy coating which helps prevent absorption of the herbicide. With that being said, spraying the plants once will not do the trick.
Treat the Wild Onion in November and reapply in March when Spring is in bloom. You also may need to repeat this process for the next couple of years since Wild Onion bulbs can stay dormant in the soil for up to 6 years.
Key Takeaways
What is Wild Onion?
- Wild Onion (also called Onion Grass) is a common weed that grows on lawns and flowerbeds and has distinctive onion smell.
- Wild Onion looks similar to Wild Garlic with the main difference being that Wild Onion has wider, more grass-like leaves, while Wild Garlic leaves are thin, tube-like and hollow.
How To Get Rid of Wild Onion In Your Yard
- To treat growing Wild Onion, we recommend applying 2,4-D Amine Selective Weed Killer. Treat the Wild Onion in the early fall to November with a follow-up treatment near the end of winter into early spring (February or early March).
Preventing Wild Onion Reinfestation
- Prevent Wild Onion by monitoring your lawn in the Fall and early Spring for a few years and reapply 2,4-D periodically if you see young Wild Onion growing since the weed's bulbs can stay dormant in the soil up to 6 years.
How to Get Rid of Onions in My Yard
Source: https://www.solutionsstores.com/how-to-control-and-eliminate-wild-onions