What Hairy Bittercress looks like
Small rosette of rounded leaflets with tiny white flowers on upright stems. Seed pods explode when touched, flinging seeds several feet.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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Best approach: Hand-pull or dig
Very easy to pull by hand — shallow taproot comes out cleanly. The key is pulling BEFORE seed pods mature (they explode and fling seeds everywhere). Best pulled on a calm day.
Tools that make pulling Hairy Bittercress easier
Hairy Bittercress grows back unless you get the whole root — these pull it out cleanly, root and all, no chemicals needed.
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Fiskars Stand-Up Weed Puller
Beginner friendlyRemoving taprooted weeds root-and-all — dandelion, plantain, thistle, dock — without bending, kneeling, or chemicals
Grampa's Weeder Original Stand Up Weed Puller
Beginner friendlyPulling dandelions, plantain, thistle and other taprooted lawn weeds root-and-all — no bending, kneeling, or chemicals
Nisaku NJP650 Hori Hori Weeding Knife
Beginner friendlyDigging out the weeds a claw puller can't grab — creeping rosettes, clumps, and roots that regrow from any fragment left behind
When to treat Hairy Bittercress
Spray in spring or fall when temperatures are 60–80°F and the weed is actively growing. Avoid summer heat — stressed grass takes collateral damage.
Non-chemical management
Pull plants before seed pods mature — they explode when ripe. Mulch beds to prevent germination.
How to stop Hairy Bittercress coming back
Maintain thick mulch in beds. Pull or spray before the plant sets seed in early spring.
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What does Hairy Bittercress look like?
Small rosette of rounded leaflets with tiny white flowers on upright stems. Seed pods explode when touched, flinging seeds several feet.
What's the best way to kill Hairy Bittercress?
Hand-pull or dig. Very easy to pull by hand — shallow taproot comes out cleanly. The key is pulling BEFORE seed pods mature (they explode and fling seeds everywhere). Best pulled on a calm day.
Is Hairy Bittercress hard to get rid of?
Hairy Bittercress is rated easy to control. Most homeowners can handle it in one or two treatments.
How do I stop Hairy Bittercress coming back?
Maintain thick mulch in beds. Pull or spray before the plant sets seed in early spring.
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