This week’s weed is carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata). I have been seeing a lot of this around lately in gardens and flowerbeds. This spreading, summer annual is actually quite pretty when it is small. However, it spreads very quickly, creating a dense “carpet”.  This weed can be found in sunny, disturbed areas like a tilled garden. There are three to eight small green leaves that whorl around the stem at each node. Carpetweed produces small whitish green flowers in the summer that attract bees. However, it is encouraged that this weed is removed before it blooms so that it prevents the spread of unwanted seeds.

You can easily pull up carpetweed because it has a small, branched taproot. To prevent this weed from entering turf areas, be sure to maintain a dense turf, mow at the right height, and water and fertilize correctly. Herbicides for pre-emergence control include Tenacity and Echelon. The main post-emergence control herbicide is 2,4-D sprayed when weeds are young and actively growing. If you chose to control it with a herbicide, another reason to spray before it flowers is so that pollinators aren’t getting near those chemically affected flowers looking for nectar and pollen!

As always remember that when using chemicals, please be sure to read and follow all labels and instructions! If you need any help or have questions about how/when to apply, or which chemicals you can use and where, just call our office! We will be happy to help!