Ribwort plantain is a well-known medicinal herb often used to soothe respiratory issues. You’ll find it growing wild in meadows, fields, and—much to many homeowners’ chagrin—right in the middle of the backyard lawn. While it’s great for a cough, it’s usually not a welcome guest in a manicured garden.
Getting Rid of Plantain in Your Garden
If you’re looking to clear out plantain, there are a few different ways to tackle the job:
- Mechanical control
- Preventing self-seeding
- Using herbicides
- Hand-weeding
Hand-Weeding
Let’s be honest: weeding is every gardener’s least favorite chore. Plantain is particularly tricky because it has a deep taproot that requires some real elbow grease to dig out. I highly recommend using a long-handled stand-up weeder; it saves your back by letting you pull weeds while standing upright. The best part? You don’t have to toss those weeds in the trash. They make excellent snacks for rabbits and horses. If you find some nice, long leaves, you can even dry them for a homemade winter cough tea or toss them fresh into salads and dressings.
Mechanical Control
This method is all about regular maintenance. If you keep your grass mowed to a height of about 1.5 to 2 inches (4–5 cm), the lawn stays thick and lush. This naturally chokes out weeds by blocking their light. If you notice any plantain starting to bloom, snip those flower stalks off immediately! This is the only way to stop them from dropping seeds and spreading further. Just a heads-up: don’t throw those seed heads on your compost pile. The seeds can still ripen and catch a ride on the wind back to your lawn. It’s much better to toss them in your green waste bin or the regular trash.
Using Herbicides
If you’re looking for a quick fix, you can use spray-on herbicides. However, be careful—these chemicals can be pretty harsh on your lawn and the surrounding environment. The spray mist can easily drift onto nearby fruit trees or vegetable patches. You’ll have to wait several weeks for the chemicals to break down before it’s safe to harvest or eat anything from those areas, as they can be harmful to your health.
Another chemical option is using a “weed and feed” fertilizer. These combo products are designed to distinguish between weeds and grass—killing the plantain while strengthening your lawn. You might see some bare spots where the weeds died off, but since the grass is getting a nutrient boost, it should fill those gaps in no time.