The Daisy-Like Weed You May Not Want Growing In Your Yard

Quickweed (Galinsoga quadriradiata) looks quite cute at first glance. With its small white flowers and bright green leaves, it almost looks like a daisy or at the very least a plant that should be kept around to add some charm to your garden. But don't let it's whimsical appearance fool you. Quickweed has other names such as hairy galinsoga or gallant soldier.  Left unchecked it can grow up to two feet tall and crank out several generations in a single growing season, right up until the first frost of the year. So while one little plant may look harmless, be warned that it will multiply, creating a sea of unwanted weeds in your yard.

Perhaps one of the most annoying features of quickweed is that it loves disturbed soil, so if you've recently dug new garden beds, spread compost, or left bare patches of ground exposed, this plant will see it as an open invitation to set up camp. Once rooted, it grows fast. Before long, what looked like a neat space for your tomatoes or zinnias will be covered in little daisy weeds that you never asked for. Luckily, if you're figuring out how to get rid of weeds in your garden in a more general sense, quickweed isn't going to be your biggest concern as it actually responds quickly to some easy gardening hacks.

The easiest way to avoid a problem with quickweed is through prevention, and you can accomplish it with a layer of mulch. Pine bark nuggets, rice hulls, or wood chips at depths of one to two inches in containers—or two to four inches in landscapes—can significantly reduce the growth of this weed. That's because the deeper this weed is planted, the more difficult it is for it to germinate and grow. Just remember, too much mulch can cause mushrooms to grow, so don't overdo it. If that's a concern, a pre-emergent herbicide applies in the spring can also stop quickweed from sprouting in the first place. 

If you already have a quickweed problem, don't stress. Quickweed's root system is shallow, so it doesn't put up much of a fight if you remove it early. Pulling it by hand works as long as you get to it before the flowers go to seed. Try pulling them up after a good rain since that's the best time to pull weeds without hassle. Quickweed roots should slide out cleanly from the softened ground. And if you find a large swathes of it, you can spot-treat with a post-emergent herbicide though you may still prefer the simple satisfaction of yanking them out. 

But the most important thing is that once you've spotted those daisy-like blooms appearing, don't wait around. Removing them early is the easiest way to avoid fighting a full army of gallant soldiers later in the season.