Mouse Ear Chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum)

Mouse Ear Chickweed aka Sticky Mouse-Ear Chickweed is an invasive, low-growing annual that easily competes with other plants. It is common throughout Australia, but favours temperate areas like the Southern Highland and Central Tablelands of NSW and the ACT.

The weed forms a ground cover that chokes out plants, and is a problem in irrigated lawns and turf areas across Australia.

The spreading root system also removes nutrients and moisture from the soil. In cultivated areas, it spreads quickly and is difficult to control.

Mouse Ear Chickweed is an upright annual weed, and is similar to Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) but has a more erect habit. It is a highly unpalatable and a competitive weed in the grazing industry.

After you read this, you will be able to:

• Identify Mouse Ear Chickweed.
• Know its habitat.
• Know the best cultural and chemical options to control this weed.

 

Mouse Ear Chickweed is a good indicator weed of well drained to moist soils. In a turf situation it often indicates poor turf density.

Thanks The Atlas of Living Australia for the distribution map.

More information on turf weeds is in our weed ID chart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Broadleaf (Dicot).

 

 

Photosynthetic Pathway: C3 Weed

 

 

Flower: Its small white flowers have five petals with deeply notched tips, and there may appear to be ten petals at first glance. Its white flowers bloom in the late Winter to early Spring, and the plant then dies as the days grow hot.

 

 

Height: Mouse Ear Chickweed has a branched stem up to 45 cm tall, with abundant glandular and non-glandular hairs.

 

 

Leaf length: Less than 25 mm.

 

Leaf width: The leaves are less than 25 mm wide.

Reproduction: This species reproduces only by seed. These seeds are spread by wind, water, vehicles, in mud and in contaminated agricultural produce. Some form of disturbance is essential for establishment.

The seeds germinate when soil temperatures reach about 15°C; the optimal temperature being from 12° to 20°C. However, if the soil is very moist, seeds can germinate at much higher temperatures.

The seeds tend to germinate at or very near to the soil surface, and can germinate in large numbers after an irrigation or rain. The deeper the seeds are buried or the drier the soil, the less likely it is that the seeds will germinate or the seedlings will survive. The lifecycle of this weed is 5 to 6 weeks.

 

Comments: The stems are 2.5 to 5 cm long.

 

 

 

 

 

Habitat: Mouse ear Chickweed is common along roadsides, in lawns and adjacent grasslands.

 

 

 

 

 

Both cultural and chemical control can control this weed.

 

 

 

To control Mouse Ear Chickweed without chemicals, maintain turf density by fertilizing, mowing at the right height of cut, and irrigating appropriately.

 

 

 

Hand weeding also works well but make sure that you remove the entire plant including the roots to prevent regrowth.

 

 

Grass selection is also important. Choosing the wrong turf seed or grass type can have serious implications in Mouse Ear Chickweed management moving forward.

 

 

Chemical control is best in the Autumn and Early Spring when plants are small, and before they flower. It is difficult to control in cool weather, and when plants are large, and in a dense vegetative mat.

Sulfonylurea resistance in Chickweed exists in the UK. Bearing this in mind remember to regularly rotate your chemistry. MCPA and 2,4-D are not very effective against Chickweed.

 

Pre-Emergent Control of Mouse Ear Chickweed.

• Prodiamine (Onset 10GR, Spartan, or Barricade).
• S-Metolachlor (Pennmag).
• Propyzamide (ProForce Checkpoint).
• Pendimethalin (ProForce Battalia 435).
• BASF Freehand Herbicide.
• Esplanade Herbicide in NZ and Australia.

Post Emergent Control of Mouse Ear Chickweed.

• Glyphosate (Rapid Fire 800). If you use Glyphosate to control Mouse Ear Chickweed, and water quality is an issue then we recommend the use of ProForce Manta Ray.
• Numchuk Quad.
• Cortex Duo.