Re: eradicating onion weed
- Subject: Re: eradicating onion weed
- From: &* C* M* <j*@earthlink.net>
- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 23:14:25 -0700
Nan,
This is Nothoscordum inodorum, "false garlic." I have tried every
chemical in the world on this, and nothing works.
In 1994, when I first came to the Hall garden, it was everywhere.
The only way I have made progress against it is by 1. removing EVERY
flower head before it has a chance to mature any seed, leaving the
stem to mark the location of the central bulb until I have time to
remove it, and 2. digging out each individual bulb with a small core
of soil so that none of the tiny bulblets has any chance of breaking
away and escaping. These I seal in plastic bags and send to a
landfill. Each year I find a few bulbs that have sprung up from
unnoticed seed. Eternal vigilance is the only solution to this
problem. If only one flower head is allowed to mature, hundreds of
seed will be scattered, and seedlings can sprout for several years
from the long-lived seeds.
In the Nicholson garden I have been able to eradicate it entirely
with this strategy, but next door it has been allowed to spread
unchecked, so there is a constant danger of reinfection.
John MacGregor
South Pasadena, CA 91030
USDA zone 9 Sunset zones 21/23
On Aug 6, 2007, at 8:29 PM, N Sterman wrote:
A friend sent me this question:
Do you know how to kill the insidious onion weed? I don't know the
species but the bulb has many bulblets that drop off into the soil
when you attempt to dig out the bulb. Also, the seeds are ever
present and propagate like mad. Some kind person gave me this bulb
as a gift and I have been working on its eradication ever since.
One of my areas has been weeded with soil removed down 10".
Any suggestions?
