Hello, new member here. I've got a growing concern in my new organic field and I'm hoping some of you have dealt with this before.. It seems like the common milkweed is having a banner year, popping up more than usual, especially in the spots where the ground is baked solid. Hoeing them out is a no-go with how hard the soil is, and frankly, I don't want to spend the next week walking aimlessly around the field spot-treating every single plant with a paintbrush. I'm looking for a chemical control that can get down to that tuber without being a restricted product. I know glyphosate would do the trick, but I'm trying to find an alternative.. Any suggestions on something that can be used for spot treatment and won't get me in trouble with the organic certifier?? I'm ready to have my field looking clean again. Thanks in advance for the help!
Milkweed control in organic field
- Thread starter m0nd0.y23
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chickyoink_
New member
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- Sep 15, 2025
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WeedZap is great as a contact herbicide, especially when it's hot outside. It stops growth up top and cuts down on seeds spreading, even if it doesn't hit the tuber.
@chickyoink has an interesting suggestion but keep in mind that WeedZap is a contact herbicide. It will burn off the top growth, but since it doesn't translocate to the deep tuber, the milkweed will almost certainly grow back. You'd likely need repeated applications to eventually exhaust the root system, which might not save you from a lot of walking. It works well on small annual weeds but is less effective on an established perennial like this. You might need to look into cultural controls that can be done on a larger scale, but as for chemical options, your choices are extremely limited if you're trying to maintain that organic certification. Anything that's a true herbicide is likely a no-go.
i have to agree with @r9nger_hf about the weedzap. it won't work on established milkweed because the plant's deep taproot has too much stored energy, and the plant will just grow back. you'd just be trading one repeated chore for another. since you're sticking with organic certification, you really have to focus on mechanical or cultural controls. it think your best bet is some form of tillage to physically remove the root. getting that soil worked up is the long-term fix for your problem, anyway.
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- Feb 21, 2025
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@m0nd0.y23 with established milkweed in an organic field, chemical options are basically off the table. Your best bet is repeated mechanical or cultural control.
