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Chives are low-maintenance denizens of the herb garden, and they’re handy when you want to snip a few for use in recipes or topping baked potatoes. The only problem is that these easy-to-grow plants aren’t always well-behaved and before you know it, they can escape their boundaries and pop up in places where you don’t want them – including your well-tended lawn. Read on for helpful tips for controlling chives and ridding lawns of chive plants.
Chives are a popular herb that are grown for their mild onion-like flavor and grassy foliage. They make a great addition to any herb garden. However, chives can sometimes spread out of control and invade lawns and flowerbeds where they are not wanted.
Chives spread readily for a couple of reasons:
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They grow from bulbs that divide and spread underground. A mature clump of chives contains hundreds of tiny bulblets that can detach and take root in other areas
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They produce abundant seeds if allowed to flower, Each pink chive flower head contains numerous small black seeds that self-sow everywhere
So chives can pop up far from where they were originally planted due to their spreading bulbs and prolific self-seeding A patch of chives that is allowed to go to seed will quickly colonize an entire garden or lawn.
Getting rid of unwanted chive plants takes persistence, but it can be done through digging, mowing, and using herbicides. Here is a complete guide on controlling chives and removing them from areas where they have spread.
Hand Digging to Remove Chives
Manually digging out chives is an effective way to remove small amounts of them. Use a narrow trowel or hori-hori knife to dig under chive clumps and lift them out. Try to extract as much of the roots and bulbs as possible so they don’t regrow. Digging works best when the soil is moist enough to easily remove the entire root mass.
Be diligent about digging out any new sprouts that emerge. Young chive plants are easier to dig up than established clumps. Repeat digging whenever chive growth reappears to prevent the plants from gaining a foothold.
Mowing to Control Chives
Frequent mowing or shearing of chive foliage helps control further spread. Cutting the leaves down to ground level prevents the plants from flowering and going to seed. It also starves the bulbs underground by removing their ability to photosynthesize.
Mow over chives as often as needed to keep the foliage trimmed to the soil surface. The bulbs will eventually die after several seasons of mowing. For large infestations, consider renting a brush cutter to quickly mow down the chive leaves.
Always collect and dispose of the clippings to prevent reseeding. Ensure no chive flowers form that could release seeds into the mowed area.
Using Herbicides on Chives
Non-selective herbicides containing glyphosate (Roundup) can be used to kill chives in areas like driveways and patios. Glyphosate is absorbed through the leaves and moves down to destroy the whole plant including the roots and bulbs. Treat chives with glyphosate in late summer or fall when the plants are actively growing. It may take several applications to fully eradicate a severe chive infestation.
In lawns, selective broadleaf weed killers with 2,4-D or dicamba can help control chives. Products containing these ingredients kill broadleaf weeds like chives but don’t harm grass. Spray over unwanted chives growing in the lawn, avoiding any desirable plants. 2,4-D is effective at killing the above ground chive foliage while multiple applications help destroy the bulbs. Always read herbicide labels carefully before using in lawns or gardens.
Preventing Chives from Spreading
To prevent chives from spreading out of control:
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Plant them in containers instead of directly in garden beds. Pots restrict bulbs and contain chives.
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Cut off flower heads before they go to seed. Removing flowers prevents self-seeding.
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Divide large clumps every 2-3 years to control spread. Replant divisions in pots rather than back in garden beds.
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Pull out unwanted small chive plants as soon as spotted. Don’t let them grow and spread.
How to Completely Eradicate Chives
With persistence, you can fully get rid of invasive chives. Here are some tips:
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Combine manual digging with frequent mowing to weaken chives. Digging removes roots while mowing starves bulbs.
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After digging or mowing, cover the area with landscape fabric or cardboard to block light and prevent regrowth.
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Solarize the soil by placing clear plastic sheeting over chive infestations during hot sunny weather. The heat kills chives and sterilizes the soil.
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Use non-selective herbicides like glyphosate in areas away from desirable plants. Follow up with a pre-emergent herbicide to stop future growth.
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For large infestations, rent a tiller or cultivator to churn up and disrupt the soil to extract roots and bulbs.
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After removing chives, plant competitive groundcovers like vinca or pachysandra to prevent recolonization.
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Monitor areas where chives were removed and immediately eliminate any new growth before it can spread again.
FAQs About Controlling Chives
How do you stop chives from flowering and going to seed?
Cut off flower heads as soon as they appear, before they have a chance to bloom. Also mow or shear foliage frequently to prevent flowering stems from developing.
What’s the best herbicide for getting rid of chives?
Glyphosate (Roundup) works on chives growing in areas away from other plants. 2,4-D and dicamba work well in lawns by killing chives but not harming grass.
How long does it take for chives to die after applying herbicide?
It depends on the product used. Glyphosate may take 1-2 weeks to kill chives while 2,4-D can take 2-3 weeks. Pre-emergent herbicides prevent regrowth for 3-4 months.
Can boiling water kill chives?
Yes, boiling water poured directly on chives can effectively kill them. However, it only treats above ground growth. Repeat applications are needed to destroy roots and bulbs.
Do chives spread by seeds only or also underground?
Chives spread both by small black seeds from flowers as well as underground via bulblets that detach from mature bulbs.
Controlling chives takes time and effort, but is definitely possible. Be diligent about digging, mowing, and monitoring areas where chives have spread. Herbicides provide chemical control but should be used carefully. With persistence, you can rid your lawn and garden of invasive chives for good.
How Do You Get Rid of Chives?
If chives are spreading in lawns, you’ll need to implement a two-pronged approach because chives are spread by both seeds and underground bulbs. To prevent the plant from going to seed, remove all of the blooms before they wilt – or better yet, mow or trim them before they have a chance to bloom at all. Removing the chive bulbs requires digging – a lot. A thin trowel or similar tool is best for digging bulbs in grass, and you may sacrifice a small amount of grass to get rid of the chives. Water the area the day before to soften the ground. Don’t attempt to pull the plants because the tiny bulblets will break off and spread. Be persistent and continue to dig as soon as new plants appear.