In the wild, you’ll spot yarrow just about everywhere—from open meadows and forest clearings to roadsides and the edges of farm fields. With its pretty white blooms and long history as a medicinal herb, it’s actually a fantastic addition to many gardens. However, if it starts popping up right in the middle of your pristine lawn, it’s usually considered more of a weed than a welcome guest.
Yarrow is a Hardy Perennial
Once yarrow finds a spot it likes, it’s usually there to stay for quite a while. It’s a reliable perennial, meaning it comes back year after year, and it’s incredibly winter-hardy, so it can handle those freezing temperatures without breaking a sweat at its location.
Getting Yarrow Out of Your Lawn
If you’re looking to clear yarrow out of your grass, you’re going to need a little bit of patience. It spreads pretty quickly by dropping seeds and sending out underground runners (rhizomes). Even if you think you’ve pulled every visible plant, don’t be surprised if new seedlings pop up the following spring. You’ll want to stay on top of those and remove them as soon as they appear.
To get rid of yarrow, you can either:
- Stick with natural removal methods,
- Or use chemical treatments.
Preventing Yarrow Before It Starts
Yarrow loves to take advantage of bare patches in the grass. The best way to keep it from moving in is to make sure your lawn is thick and healthy. If you see a bare spot, get some grass seed down and fill it in quickly. A dense lawn is the best natural defense against yarrow taking root.
Regular mowing is another great preventative step. Keeping your grass at a consistent height ensures a thick carpet of growth and chops off any yarrow stalks before they have a chance to bloom and drop more seeds.
Using Chemical Controls
If you’re dealing with a massive yarrow takeover, pulling every single plant by hand can be a real headache. For a faster, more targeted approach, you can find herbicides at your local garden center. Just make sure you choose a product specifically designed for lawns so you kill the weeds without harming your grass.
Putting Lawn Yarrow to Use
If a few sprigs of yarrow in your lawn don’t bother you, why not just let them grow? It’s a famous medicinal plant with a ton of uses. In fact, most parts of the plant are actually edible and can be used in all sorts of recipes in the kitchen. Plus, if you have small pets like rabbits or guinea pigs, they’ll absolutely love snacking on the fresh green leaves!