Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
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Onion weed, or Asphodelus fistulosus, is an invasive plant with long, cylindrical leaves and white flowers.[1] Onion weed can be eliminated with suitable herbicides, or by using natural methods, like pulling or smothering. You’ll have to be persistent to get rid of this surprisingly resilient weed, but with patience and time, it can be done.
Steps
Pull the weeds out of the ground. Hand pulling onion weed out of the ground is an easy, immediate option. If you're looking for a natural way to get rid of onion weed, hand pulling is an effective method.[2]
Use an herbicide. Onion weed can be effectively and fairly safely eliminated by using an herbicide containing glyphosate. You should follow the directions given with the herbicide, but in most cases you simply spray the herbicide on the weeds you want to eliminate.[3]- Please note: The WHO considers glyphosate to be a probable human carcinogen. Its use is prohibited in some states and countries. Please check with your local laws and use caution if handling this chemical.
- Always spray on a clear, non-windy and dry day.
- Always wear protective gear when using an herbicide.
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Cover the area in plastic for a herbicide-free option. Take a sheet of opaque black plastic that is large enough to cover the area infested with onion weed. Use several sheets if necessary. Hold the plastic in place with rocks or stakes, and leave it there for several weeks.[4]- By cutting off light that the plants need to survive, this method will eventually kill the weeds.
- This method will probably also dry out the soil in the area, and may kill grass or other plants along with the onion weed.
- Plan it to take a year or so for the soil and area to return to normal.
Dig bulbs out of the ground. You can pull wild onions out of the ground, but merely yanking on the green stalks will leave the bulbs in the ground. This means that before too long, the weeds will return. To really eliminate the weed, you will have to take a small trowel and dig the whole plant out of the ground, bulb and all.[5]
Choose an herbicide. Only certain herbicides are effective against wild onions. Look for “postemergence” ones, meaning herbicides that are sprayed on the plants after they sprout options include herbicides containing:[6]- Imazaquin
- A combo of 2,4-D, dicamba, and mecoprop (MCPP) in them.
- Glyphosate (useful only if you have a small number of wild onions to eliminate)
Attack persistently. Because wild onions have long, smooth leaves, it isn’t easy for herbicides to stick. This means that you will most likely have to spray several times a season, possibly for more than one year. Don’t give up![7]- Spray in late fall and again in late winter or early spring.
- Mowing before you spray might help.
Try a natural method instead. If you want to avoid herbicides, dig up the bulbs first and discard. Then spray ordinary white vinegar in the hole. Refill the holes with new topsoil.- You can also try smothering wild onions under black plastic, in the same way as you would for onion weed.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWill microwaving onion weed bulbs kill them? If so, how long for?
Community AnswerThe important thing is to get the bulbs out of the ground and discard them.
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.nps.gov/sagu/learn/nature/onionweed.htm
- ↑ https://www.nps.gov/sagu/learn/nature/onionweed.htm
- ↑ https://www.roundup.com.au/weeds-killing/how-to-kill-onion-weed
- ↑ https://www.roundup.com.au/weeds-killing/how-to-kill-onion-weed
- ↑ https://lee.ces.ncsu.edu/2015/02/wild-onionwild-garlic-kill-control-prevent-it-2/
- ↑ https://lee.ces.ncsu.edu/2015/02/wild-onionwild-garlic-kill-control-prevent-it-2/
- ↑ https://lee.ces.ncsu.edu/2015/02/wild-onionwild-garlic-kill-control-prevent-it-2/
About This Article
To get rid of onion weed, pull the weeds out with your hands, removing as much of the roots as possible. Alternatively, spray the plant with an herbicide that contains glyphosate on a clear, dry day, so that the herbicide can stick to the leaves. Additionally, make sure to wear protective gear, like gloves and boots, to keep the herbicide off your skin. If you want to get rid of a larger patch of onion weed, cover the entire area with a sheet of opaque black plastic sheeting to kill the weeds by depriving them of light and water. For tips from our Horticultural reviewer on how to remove wild onions, keep reading.
Reader Success Stories
"It has had given me hope. I shall earnestly apply most of the recommendations. I shall paint the leaves and keep snipping at the ones that have not yet gone up."..." more
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