How to Get Rid of Jimsonweed Fast Before It Spreads and Takes Over Your Yard

Jimsonweed has a long and fascinating history. While it might be fun to read about, you don’t want to grow it, especially if you live with children, pets, or keep livestock. It’s known as a noxious weed in the U.S., and all parts are highly toxic.

The best methods for getting rid of this nightshade and keeping it from coming back depend on the size and number of plants. Large patches require a multi-tiered approach, while smaller patches can often be controlled fairly quickly with less effort.

Here’s what you need to know about jimsonweed and what to do if it invades your yard and gardens.

What Is Jimsonweed?

Despite jimsonweed’s intriguing history, key takeaways are its toxicity and rapid spread. This tender herbaceous perennial is found around the globe and across the U.S. from garden beds to waste places and along roadsides.

Look for it to appear in May and June, with seed pods developing in late summer and autumn. Plants die back after the first frost.

Plants are tall, reaching 3 to 5 feet, with green to purple, hollow, branching stems. Young leaves are green and oval-shaped shaped maturing to 3 to 8 inches long and becoming toothed, similar to poinsettia leaves.

Each branch produces a large (2- to 4-inch), trumpet-shaped white to purple flower that opens for one night. Don’t be fooled by the impressive, pleasantly aromatic bloom. All other plant parts have a foul odor, and all parts, including the flower, are toxic. To make matters worse, jimsonweed serves as a host plant for garden insect pests and diseases.

Fruits are egg-shaped, four-chambered, spiny pods, holding dozens of highly toxic, shiny, black seeds each.

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How to Get Rid of Jimsonweed Safely

Preventing seed production is the goal, so diligent monitoring and early intervention are key. Once seeds spread, plants quickly form colonies, crowding out other desirable plants and crops.

Combined methods for a tailored approach depend on the size and location of your patch. Wear protective clothing, including long sleeves and eyewear. Handling this plant can irritate skin and eyes. Here are some methods to consider.

• Mowing: Mow young plants to cut down leafy growth and starve the roots.
• Hand pulling: Smaller jimsonweed 6 inches or less can be hand pulled or removed with a dandelion digger or spade. Be sure to get the roots.
• Hoeing: Use a hoe to chop off the tops of small plants to starve the roots.
• Digging: Use a shovel or grub hoe to dig out larger plants. Plants have branched taproots.
• Pre-emergent herbicides: In areas where ornamental plants are already growing, pre-emergent herbicides discourage seeds from germinating.
• Mulch: Organic mulches discourage weedy growth and break down to nourish the soil.
• Propane torch: Eliminate small plants by burning, which kills above-ground growth and starves roots. A mask is recommended.
• Broadleaf herbicides: Large plants and patches may require applications of broadleaf herbicides. Check the label for affected plants and follow directions and cautions.
• Dispose safely: If you remove plants with seeds, bag them and let them sit for one year before disposal to help prevent unwanted spread elsewhere.

How to Prevent Jimsonweed From Coming Back

• Maintain healthy lawns. Keep your lawn healthy and weed-free with a regular maintenance schedule for mowing, fertilizing, and overseeding.
• Plant a cover crop. This prevents heavy weed pressure in vegetable plots during the off season and nourishes the soil for next season’s crops.
• Apply mulch. Organic mulches suppress weedy growth in flower beds and around ornamentals and break down to enrich and improve soil.
• Repeat mowing. Jimsonweed seeds remain viable in the soil for a long time. Watch for seedlings every spring and continue to mow or hand-pull before plants mature.
• Avoid mechanical cultivation. Deep mechanical cultivation can bring up viable jimsonweed seeds. Hoe or rake smaller planting beds for several years to keep buried seeds from germinating.
• Use pre-emergent herbicides. To plant large areas previously affected by jimsonweed, use a pre-emergent herbicide.