Wild Garlic

Wild Garlic is a persistent perennial weed that invades lawns, pastures, and garden beds, producing a strong onion-like odor when mowed or crushed. It emerges early in spring and late fall, often standing taller than turfgrass, giving lawns an uneven appearance. Despite its name, Wild Garlic is not the same as edible garlic—it spreads rapidly and can be very difficult to control once established.

How to Identify

Wild Garlic grows in clumps with slender, hollow, waxy leaves that are round in cross-section—unlike its close relative, Wild Onion, which has flat leaves. It produces small white to pinkish flowers or bulblets at the top of tall, leafless stems. When pulled, the plant emits a pungent garlic smell, and small bulbs can often be seen attached to the roots, allowing it to regrow even after removal.

Lifecycle

Wild Garlic is a cool-season perennial that emerges in fall and grows through winter and spring before going dormant in the summer heat. It reproduces by underground bulbs and aerial bulblets, making mechanical control difficult without spreading the infestation.

Prevention & Control

Because Wild Garlic has a waxy leaf surface that resists herbicide absorption, multiple applications of a selective broadleaf herbicide containing 2,4-D, dicamba, or metsulfuron are usually needed for effective control. Mowing before bulblet formation can help prevent spread but won’t eliminate the bulbs. Hand-pulling is only effective if all bulbs are removed.