Weeds: Common Chickweed - Plant Insect, Disease and Environmental Problem Information from PlantsGalore.Com

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is one of those plants called a winter annual. That means that the seeds generally germinate in the fall, the plant grows a bit and then survives the winter. In late spring, it flowers and sets seeds for the next go around. The plant is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and it is a prolific producer of seeds. Thus its place as a common lawn weed.

As with most lawn weeds, the best control is to grow a healthy, vigorous turfgrass. A good layer of mulch such as shredded bark or wood chips will help manage weeds in the bed or border.

If cultural options do not provide enough control, several herbicides are also labeled for this weed, however, this one falls under the "difficult to control" lawn weeds and may be tough to eliminate.

Note: We have provided some general information and observations on this topic aimed at the home gardener. Before you take any serious action in your landscape, check with your state's land grant university's Cooperative Extension Service for the most current, appropriate, localized recommendations.