I need advice to kill wild strawberry growing in my lawn

[IXLR8]

I have wild strawberry plants taking over my yard. I have tried most everything at the box stores to kill it, nothing has worked so far. It is not like a cultivated strawberry bush, it is more like a low growing vine. It is taking over more and more of my lawn. I don't like the way it looks and when it flowers it attracts LOTS of bee's. The bee's are the big issue as my wife is deathly allergic to a bee sting. It has about gotten to the point she won't go out in the yard when the strawberry's are blooming due to all the bee's. I would appreciate any suggestions, short of taking roundup to the entire 1.2 acre yard and starting over.

Thank you,

 

[MossRoad]

The best way to kill them is to plan to harvest them for food, then they'll surely die before you know it. At least that's the way everything in my garden works. :laughing:

But seriously, sorry to hear about your wife's bee allergy.

Try these links...
Getting rid of wild strawberry | PennLive.com
Wild Strawberries

 

[gwdixon]

As stated in the articles by MossRoad, a broad leaf weedkiller that is safe for lawns should do the job. 2,4,D based weed killer is one example. AgriSupply sells it.

I use Weed-B-Gone by Ortho. Some love it, some hate it. But it works in my large lawn for spot treating weeds and not killing the surrounding grass. Can't hurt to give it a try. Mix it a little strong and apply a couple of days in a row to make sure the conditions are right for its absorption.

 

[dave1949]

We have lots of wild strawberries in areas that don't get mowed often, but they don't live in mowed areas of our yard. Are you sure it is strawberries and not cinquefoil?

Five-leaves, yellow flowers? That is very common here and spreads all over.

 

[IXLR8]

We have lots of wild strawberries in areas that don't get mowed often, but they don't live in mowed areas of our yard. Are you sure it is strawberries and not cinquefoil?

Five-leaves, yellow flowers? That is very common here and spreads all over.

I was told it was wild strawberry, but I don't know for sure, I have never heard of Cinquefoil. I won't be home until Friday, I will try to post a picture of it then.
I have tried Weed-B-Gone, along with most everything else at Lowes and HD, doesn't even seem to fade it. This year I even tried to make up a stronger mixture as I note that they are diluting the main ingredients more and more. Didn't touch it.

 

[gwdixon]

I was told it was wild strawberry, but I don't know for sure, I have never heard of Cinquefoil. I won't be home until Friday, I will try to post a picture of it then.
I have tried Weed-B-Gone, along with most everything else at Lowes and HD, doesn't even seem to fade it. This year I even tried to make up a stronger mixture as I note that they are diluting the main ingredients more and more. Didn't touch it.

Sounds like you have given it a good try. 2.4.D from AgSupply might be worth a go.

On the other hand, in light of your wife's allergy it may be time to RoundUp the area and replant. An ugly lawn for a while is much better than a trip to the ER.

 

[k0ua]

The best way to kill them is to plan to harvest them for food, then they'll surely die before you know it. At least that's the way everything in my garden works.

I got a kick out of that, and it is SOOO true!

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

Sounds like you have given it a good try. 2.4.D from AgSupply might be worth a go.

I've got a lot of what I call wild strawberry... see pic. This stuff does have small berries in June.

it is hard to kill, I use 2.4.D and find it works better in the fall when plants are storing nutrients in their root systems.

Pete

 

[KYErik]

Uglyboy- those look like mock strawberries to me: Mock strawberry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Fossil Farm]

If it is more "vine-like" it could be gill-over-the-ground. It has more of a small purple flower instead of the white strawberry flower. 2,4D should kill strawberries pretty easily. Gill-over-the-ground is a pain to kill. It usually takes multiple treatments to get rid of it. It is a broadleaf and 2,4D or Brush B Gone can kill it early in the spring but gets harder later on. Be sure to add a surfactant like dish soap to the sprayer to cut through the surface tension of the leaf. A few drops is plenty.