Chickweed Care
Stellaria media
An annual weed that often grows on its own in gardens and pots and loves cool, humid weather. Although it is edible, it is usually kept under control because it spreads quickly and competes with other plants.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- Watering: Not necessary (unwanted plant).
- General care: It grows actively during the winter months. Pulling by hand or hoeing is the most effective way to clear it.
- Frost risk: Not needed. It is frost-hardy.
- General care: Before it flowers and drops seed, remove it by hoeing or pulling. Mulching prevents it from emerging.
- General care: To prevent seed drop, pull or mow it as soon as it flowers. This is the most critical month for reducing next year's population.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
- General care: As the weather warms, it naturally begins to yellow and die. Clear the last remaining plants before they drop seed.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
- General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
- General care: It is out of season (seeds are dormant).
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
- General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
- General care: It is out of season (seeds are dormant).
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
- General care: Around now (20 September), seeds in the soil are waiting for autumn rains and cooler weather. Keeping the garden clean reduces germination.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
- General care: New seedlings start to emerge with the autumn rains. Pulling them out and clearing them while they are small is the easiest and most effective way.
- General care: Continue to remove newly emerging plants regularly.
- General care: It continues to grow throughout winter. Continue pulling by hand or hoeing.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.
Browse all plant guides