Burdock Management & Tips For Controlling Common Burdock Weeds

How To Kill Burdock In Lawns And Gardens

Burdock weeds are troublesome herbaceous plants that grow in pastures, along ditches and roadsides, and in many other disturbed areas across the United States.

The weed is recognized by its large, oval or triangular “elephant-ear” leaves. The upper surface of the dark green leaves may be smooth or hairy and the lower leaf surface is typically wooly and pale green.

The plant bolts in the second year and can reach heights of 3 to 10 feet (1-3 m). The small flowers, which are numerous, may be lavender, white, purple, or pink.

Why are burdock weeds so troublesome, and why is burdock management so critical? Read on to find out how to get rid of this weed.

Reasons for Controlling Common Burdock

Burdock's burs can cause real problems for livestock, resulting in eye infections, skin problems, and mouth sores. The plant can also host root rot, powdery mildew, and other diseases that can spread to agricultural plants.

It’s extremely difficult to eradicate burdock. Seeds spread quickly when the seed heads dry and break, scattering thousands of seeds far and wide. The weeds also spread when the prickly burs catch a ride on passing people or animals. Some people may experience unpleasant allergic reactions when the bristles contact the skin.

How to Kill Burdock

Digging, hand pulling, or plowing can be effective ways of controlling common burdock when the weeds are small. These techniques don’t work as well on larger plants because it’s difficult to remove the entire taproot.

You can mow taller plants, but mowing must be done before the plant has bloomed or you will simply spread the seeds. This is true with most weeds.

Unfortunately, burdock often grows in difficult, hard-to-access areas. Manual removal is often the only recourse, as well as the most environmentally friendly.

The challenge is removing burdock's long taproot which does not always come up in its entirety. Be sure to water the area before attempting to pull burdock weeds.

Horticultural vinegar poured into the hole made when a burdock weed is pulled, may effectively kill the rest of the taproot that has stayed in the ground. If you do use horticultural vinegar be sure to remember that this can affect other plants nearby as well as the soil. If possible, be selective and only saturate the immediate spots where the burdock is growing.