If you’ve spotted hawkweed popping up in your garden, you’ll want to jump into action pretty quickly. If you don’t get a handle on these plants fast, they’ll take over your yard before you know it. Your lawn usually takes the biggest hit, as hawkweed is notorious for crowding out grass until there’s nothing left but weeds.
A Double Threat: How It Spreads
The reason you need to move fast is that hawkweed has a two-pronged strategy for world domination. First, there’s self-seeding. Once those flowers wither and the seeds mature, they scatter across your yard in the wind. But it doesn’t stop there—it also spreads underground. Hawkweed grows a sturdy taproot that sends out runners (stolons), which eventually sprout into brand-new plants.
Cut It Back Before It Goes to Seed
I’ll admit, the yellow or orange blooms on different hawkweed species are actually pretty cute. But don’t let those looks fool you! To stop the seeds from maturing and spreading everywhere, you’ve got to snip those flowers off before they finish blooming. If you miss that window, preventing a backyard takeover becomes nearly impossible.
Digging It Out the Right Way
Since hawkweed spreads through its root system, just cutting the tops off won’t cut it—you’ve got to dig the plants out. Because they have deep taproots, a quick tug usually just snaps the stem, especially if your soil is packed hard. Pro tip: Wait until after a heavy rain when the ground is soft. It makes it much easier to pull the entire root out without leaving any runners behind. Make sure to sift through the soil a bit to grab any leftover bits. A garden fork or a dedicated weeding tool will be your best friend here.
To effectively get rid of hawkweed, keep this checklist in mind:
- Deadhead the flowers immediately
- Dig out the entire taproot
- Pull up any remaining runners