Controlling Chickweed in Fescue Lawns Without Harming Seedlings

Fall tilling brought up dormant chickweed seeds that sprouted alongside my fescue. Warm winter weather caused the unwanted plants to explode across the lawn. My quandary: spraying the whole lawn with weedkiller might hurt young grass seedlings, but letting chickweed grow means millions of seeds for years of battle.

I decided to spot spray weeds and hope fescue seedlings survive the stress. Dr. Tim Murphy, Extension weed scientist, tested common homeowner weed killers on turf plots at UGA Griffin campus. He reports that "combination products" like Chickweed Control, Weed Shot, and Weed-B-Gon will kill chickweed.

The chemical effect may not be obvious for a few days, but eventually leaves pucker and turn yellow. If chickweed persists in April, I'll spray again to wipe out survivors.

Always read and follow label directions. Some chemicals that kill broadleaf weeds like chickweed also affect lawn grasses. Centipede or St. Augustine grass lawns could be severely damaged by herbicides safe for bermudagrass and fescue.