It may have pretty blue flowers, but that does not stop it from being an eyesore especially when it shows up in large quantities on your otherwise tidy lawn. The good thing is that there are a couple of ways that you can use to prevent corn speedwell from taking over.
So, if you’ve been asking yourself “how do I get rid of corn speedwell” read on to find out.
What is corn speedwell?
Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis L.) is an annual, low-growing, spreading wildflower that produces blue flowers on elevated stalks. It is a member of the plantain family and is native to Europe.
This type of speedwell commonly prefers growing in sunny areas with well-drained soil but can also tolerate shady conditions. It can also grow in dry soil and where turf is thin. Growing in large, dense patches, corn speedwell is common during spring and summer.
Also known as wall speedwell or rock speedwell, this wildflower has quite an interesting tale as to how it got its name. The name “Speedwell” was picked as a reference to how quickly the plant spreads.
Corn speedwell plants have seed pods, that contain anywhere between 14-20 tiny yellow seeds. Since this plant relies on seeds to spread, controlling it before it reaches the seeding stage should be a top priority.
Is speedwell a weed?
For the most part, yes. This is especially if you have a well-maintained garden or lawn.
Once it invades gardens and lawns, it can be quite difficult to control. This is because the plant has a very extensive root system that quickly regenerates. It also produces a lot of seeds, which only adds to the problem.
How to identify corn speedwell
If you’ve not encountered corn speedwell before, you might have some difficulty trying to identify it. This is because it’s quite similar to other types of speedwell such as germander speedwell, Persian speedwell, and creeping speedwell.
Here are some of the things that you can look out for to identify corn speedwell:
Leaves
The leaves of corn speedwell are usually oval or egg-shaped with pointy tips. The leaves are usually positioned opposite each other on lower stems. On the elevated stems, however, they do form clusters.
The leaves on the lower steam are longer and wider with serrated margins. The ones of the elevated stems, on the other hand, are a tad smaller and are not serrated.
All the leaves and stems are usually hairy.
Flowers
These plants produce single flowers in leaf axils close to the top of elevated stems. The flowers, mostly ¼ to ½-inch across, have bright blue petals, a white throat, and dark-blue stripes coming from the center. Each flower comes with two stamens.
Fruits/pods
This plant produces hairy, heart-shaped, brown seed pods that contain between 14 and 20 tiny yellow seeds. The seed pods are found at the tips of the elevated stem.
How to Get Rid of Corn Speedwell
Now that you know a little more about corn speedwell, it’s time to focus on how you can get rid of it. While eliminating the weed once it has taken root is significantly difficult, you can still get rid of it. Here are some of the most effective ways:
1. Pulling it out
This is an effective method of getting rid of corn speedwell, especially if the plants are young. For this method to work best, it’s recommended that you do it after rainfall or irrigation. This is because the soil will be moist, and the weed will come out easily.
To pull out corn speedwell plants, make sure that you get the entire root system. If any part of the root system is left in the ground, it will regenerate, and you’ll be back to square one.
Once the weeds are out, leave them out in the sun for a few days to dry out and die before composting them. If any of the plants contain mature seeds, you will want to put them into a hot, moist pile, and only use the compost once it’s ready.
2. Applying herbicide
There are quite a number of herbicides that work great when it comes to killing corn speedwell weeds. Such weed killers often contain a mixture of the following chemical:
- Quinclorac
- Metsulfuron
- 2,4-D
- 2,4-DP
- Clopyralid
- MCPA
- mCPP
- Fluroxypyr
- Dicamba
- Atrazine
- Trifloxysulfuron
Some of the best products that have been proven to effectively control corn speedwell include but are not limited to:
- Roundup QuikPRO
- Eraser 41% Weed Killer Herbicide
- Ranger Pro Herbicide
- Dimension 2EW Herbicide
- Roundup Pro Max
- QuickSilver T&O Herbicide
- Celsius WG Herbicide
- Ferti-Lome Weed Free Zone
- Dimension Ultra 40WP
- Gly Pho-Sel Pro 41% with Surfactant
- Trimec Southern Broadleaf Herbicide
- Monument 75WG Herbicide
- Surge Broadleaf Herbicide for Turf
- Princep Liquid Herbicide
When using any of these products, it’s good to keep in mind that almost all of them are non-selective. As such, they will kill any other plant that they come into contact with. Therefore, great care must be taken when applying them. Make sure that you read and follow the directions on the label to avoid killing your desirable plants.
How to Get Rid of Corn Speedwell: Conclusion
Corn speedwell is one of the weeds that can be quite challenging to get rid of, especially after taking root. However, with the right method and herbicide, you can still eliminate it.
The methods and products discussed above are some of the most effective when it comes to getting rid of corn speedwell. Be sure to follow the directions on the label when using any herbicide to avoid harming your desirable plants.