Life cycle
Perennial from bulbs.
Growth habit
Grass-like, thin leaves. Wild garlic leaves are round and hollow, while those of wild onion are flat and solid.
Reproduction
Produces clusters of many underground bulbs when mowed.
Photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Conditions that favor growth
Mowing the lawn too short, inadequate fertilization of lawn.
Management in lawns
Lawn care practices
Maintain healthy, dense turf that can compete and prevent weed establishment.
Mechanical management
Hand pulling or using an appropriate weeding tool are the primary means of mechanical weed control in lawns. This is a viable option at the beginning of an infestation and on young weeds.
Manage Weeds Without Chemicals
Chemical treatment in lawns
If you choose this option, spot treat weeds with a liquid, selective, postemergent, broadleaf weed killer applied when weeds are actively growing. Look for a product with one or more of the following active ingredients:
2, 4-D, MCPP (mecoprop), Dicamba*, or Triclopyr.
*Do not spray herbicides containing dicamba over the root zone of trees and shrubs. Roots can absorb the product possibly causing plant damage. Refer to the product label for precautions.