Best way to get rid of this weed

Question: What is the best way to eradicate this troublesome weed once and for all?

responder: Helen, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer  Replied May 09, 2023, 12:03 PM EDT
response: Hi Wayne,  Thanks for reaching out to us at the UVM Extension Master Gardener program with your question! After examining your photos, our volunteers think the plant may be in the Aster family and is commonly known as Orange Hawkweed or Indian Paintbrush. Since it is early in the growing season and the photos show no flowers yet, you should be able to confirm this identification after the plant blooms (May-June). The flower stems will shoot up and produce yellow or orange/red, dandelion-like flowers, as shown in the links below.  Orange hawkweed is an invasive species, usually found in northern pastures, abandoned field, clearcuts and roadsides. Hawkweeds colonize and can rapidly dominate a site, especially on newly disturbed soils. The plant stem is covered with short, fibrous hairs and emerges from a basal rosette of hairy leaves. Hawkweeds form solid mats of rosettes and produce a milky juice. They mainly spread vegetatively through runners and rhizomes but also produce seeds (which can survive in the soil for up to 7 years).  Hawkweed is extremely difficult to control. Mowing is not effective because the plant rosettes and runners are very close to the ground. You can mow the flower stems before seed production to prevent further seed production. In situations where only a few plants are a problem, digging up the plants along with their above-ground runners will help with control.  However, in large hawkweed infestations, as may be the case in your situation, it is best to take a broader view and examine soil health and environmental conditions of the entire lawn area. A soil test would help determine nutrient levels and provide recommendations for soil amendments like lime, fertilizer and organic matter. Addition of organic matter would increase the soil quality, as hawkweed tends to spread in soils with low levels of organic matter.  The following university extension service links provide details about hawkweed identification, propagation, soil testing and specific suggestions for widespread control methods.  https://www.uvm.edu/extension/agricultural-and-environmental-testing-lab https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2584e/ https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/orange-hawkweed 2014MaineCranberryWeeds.pdf (umaine.edu)

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 09, 2023, 2:22 PM EDT
response: Thanks for the info Helen. Each year, these things multiply by 100%. I lived here for 8 years, and I have never seen any flowers whatsoever.   On 05/09/2023 12:03 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Happy Gardening!  Replied May 09, 2023, 2:55 PM EDT
response: Hi Wayne, I reviewed Helen's response and the ID looks spot on. I have hawkweed in my own lawn and know how difficult it can be to control. Take a look at the resources Helen provided. Here is one more resource that provides a non-chemical strategy: https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/2022/03/01/remove-hawkweed-plant-native-ground-cover/ Soil testing is important to learn the fertility of your lawn to give the species (grass) you want to have the best chance to outcompete the species you don't want. I wonder if you have been mowing frequently enough not to give the hawkweed enough time to flower? If they do flower, know that hawkweed is attractive to pollinators and other beneficial insects.

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 26, 2023, 3:55 PM EDT
response: Hi Deb. Regarding this hawkweed, the flowers are blooming and the weeds are rapidly growing. My wife is a cancer patient, and she is really resistant for me to use weed killer. I have seen articles about laying down an aggressive grass seed to choke out the weeds. What are your thoughts on that?  On 05/09/2023 2:55 PM EDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Happy Gardening!  Replied May 26, 2023, 4:17 PM EDT
response: Hi Wayne, The presence of hawkweed can indicate poor or acidic soils or low fertility. So, before you turn to a chemical strategy (which should be the very last resort, especially given your wife's preferences), I'd recommend trying to improve the growing conditions for the turfgrass you already have, even before you start seeding new grasses. You could conduct a soil test of your lawn to see what you are dealing with -- UVM does conduct soil testing for a modest fee, see: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/agricultural-and-environmental-testing-lab. Be sure to take a representative soil sample of the lawn area afflicted with hawkweed. Raising your mowing height (3" is recommended), adjusting pH and increasing fertility and organic matter will likely minimize the ability of hawkweed to compete with the turfgrass. If you choose to get your soil tested, you can attach your soil test results to this question and we can provide some recommendations based on those results.