Have you noticed a weed in your lawn that has been flicking its seeds at you when you walk past it? If so, then you are likely dealing with flickweed. This weed can be difficult to treat as its seed flicking can quickly take over your lawn, with the best treatment requiring a combination of pre- and post-emergent herbicides.
Scientific name: Cardamine hirsuta
Skip to: What is Flickweed? How Do I Remove Flickweed?
What is Flickweed?
Flickweed also known as Hairy Bittercress, is a common annual winter weed that can be found across Australia, thriving in damp, shady areas. It has small, rounded leaflets that grow close to the ground and large upright stems. These stems are topped with small, white flowers, and narrow seed pods, known as siliques.
These seed pods are what give the weed its name. When touched, they burst open, launching seeds up to three meters away! This seed spreading method is what can cause the weed to so quickly take over your lawn.
How Do I Remove Flickweed?
When dealing with flickweed, it is important that you act fast. This weed goes from germination to seed in only a few weeks, so the faster you can remove it the less seed can be spread.
If you only have a few weeds appearing, they can be removed by hand. Using a garden trowel, dig under the roots and lift the entire plant out. However, if the weed has become more invasive, using a herbicide will be an effective method of treatment. As flickweed is a broadleaf weed, it can be selectively treated while not causing damage to your grass. Using a product like All Purpose Weed Control will allow you to easily treat the weed while not harming your lawn.
To protect your lawn from flickweed you can also use a pre-emergent herbicide like OxaFert and Barricade. As this weed can spread seeds so prolifically, stopping them from germinating is an extremely effective method of weed control. Applying OxaFert early in autumn and again in winter can keep your lawn protected, ensuring you won’t have to deal with the hassle of removing the weed once germinated.
To find All Purpose Weed Control, OxaFert, and many more lawn care products, check out the Lawn Store here.
