Wild garlic and wild onion are strongly scented, perennial plants or weeds found in most parts of North America.

Question: I’ve recently noticed several patches of very green weeds that really stand out in my dormant Bermuda grass turf. I tried pulling some up, but they broke off in my fingers, leaving a strong scent of garlic on my hands. What is this and how do I get rid of it?

Answer: Ah, you answered part of the question yourself by mentioning the scent of garlic remaining from the unsuccessful attempt to pull the blades out of the ground.

Wild onion and wild garlic are the untamed cousins of the garden variety garlic and onion we use for cooking, and just like those from the store, or those we grow in our home gardens, the “wild ones” are edible. However, use extreme caution about eating anything plucked from your lawn (same as with mushrooms) as there are potential hazards, especially if chemicals were applied to your lawn or flower bed.

This time of year, both wild onion and wild garlic are very apparent in dormant lawns and even flower beds. Wild garlic (Allium vineale) and wild onion (Allium canadense) are strongly scented, perennial plants or weeds found in most parts of North America. Both grow in sun or shade, emerge in fall and grow throughout the winter. They flower in spring, spread seeds and then go dormant until cool weather returns. Until they go dormant, their presence will be announced by the odor of garlic or onions when the lawn is mowed those first few times in late spring.

While closely related to each other, these members of the Lily family have a couple of differences: wild onion has a flatter blade, while garlic has hollow leaves that are more rounded and pointed at the top. Wild onion reproduces by flowers and seed; wild garlic adds a third reproductive punch – it also “makes babies” via underground bulblets. Therein lies the problem, if removal is done by digging them out of the ground: if you leave any part of those small bulblets, they will make more garlic!

Even with these differences, it may not be clear whether your clump of green, sometimes slightly “frizzy” leaves is officially identified as wild onion or garlic. Be aware that control is the same for both. Cultural controls include a thick, healthy lawn or ground cover. If your lawn is thin, it may require plugging, sprigging or seeding to develop an effective weed coat.

Attempting to pull clumps of either garlic or onion by hand is a gamble because blades or leaves snap off easily, leaving them to grow right back. If you want the satisfaction of digging them up and the exercise that goes with it, be sure to get all roots, bulb or bulblets.

Mowing will slow the progression of these weeds because both onion and garlic need blades or leaves for photosynthesis to occur. And mowing before the plant flowers and sets seeds will also slow its spread, so if you prefer nonchemical controls, ‘mow, mow, mow’ your weeds.

If you choose to attempt chemical control, now is the time to begin treatment, with followup treatments in February or March. Perennial weeds exhibit little response, if any, to pre-emergent herbicides, so look for a post-emergent herbicide labeled for wild onion/wild garlic control. Triple herbicide combinations generally work best such as Trimec Classic or Three-way. They will probably contain 2,4-D, MCPP and dicamba. In addition, some will include a “spreader/sticker,” which helps the herbicide stick to the plant and aids in absorption for better weed control.

Check labels before purchasing to determine:

• Is the product safe to use on your turf grass; and

• Does it list wild onions and garlic among the weeds it controls?

Apply according to label instructions so you get the best results without wasting the product, and re-apply based on herbicide guidelines. Be safe when applying herbicides, and do not apply chemicals to turf during the “green-up” period.

— McBrayer is an Urban Regional Extension Agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. For information on topics related to the home and garden, contact any office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The Limestone County Office is located at 1109 West Market St. in Athens. Office hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 256-232-5510 or visit www.aces.edu.