How to Get Rid of Chives – A Complete Guide

Many people grow chives because they taste like mild onions and have grassy leaves. They make a great addition to any herb garden. On the other hand, chives can get out of hand and take over flowerbeds and lawns where they don’t belong.

Chives spread readily for a couple of reasons:

• They grow from bulbs that divide and spread underground. A mature clump of chives contains hundreds of tiny bulblets that can detach and take root in other areas

• They produce abundant seeds if allowed to flower, Each pink chive flower head contains numerous small black seeds that self-sow everywhere

Because their bulbs spread out and produce a lot of seeds, chives can grow far from where they were planted. If you let a patch of chives go to seed, it will quickly take over your whole garden or lawn.

It takes time and effort to get rid of chive plants that you don’t want, but you can do it by digging, mowing, or using herbicides. Here’s everything you need to know to get rid of chives and stop them from spreading.

Hand Digging to Remove Chives

Manually digging out chives is an effective way to remove small amounts of them. Use a narrow trowel or hori-hori knife to dig under chive clumps and lift them out. Try to extract as much of the roots and bulbs as possible so they don’t regrow. Digging works best when the soil is moist enough to easily remove the entire root mass.

Be diligent about digging out any new sprouts that emerge. Young chive plants are easier to dig up than established clumps. Repeat digging whenever chive growth reappears to prevent the plants from gaining a foothold.

Mowing to Control Chives

Frequent mowing or shearing of chive foliage helps control further spread. Cutting the leaves down to ground level prevents the plants from flowering and going to seed. It also starves the bulbs underground by removing their ability to photosynthesize.

As often as you need to, mow over chives to keep the leaves close to the soil. The bulbs will eventually die after several seasons of mowing. For big problems, you might want to rent a brush cutter to quickly cut down the chives’ leaves.

Always collect and dispose of the clippings to prevent reseeding. Ensure no chive flowers form that could release seeds into the mowed area.

Using Herbicides on Chives

Non-selective herbicides containing glyphosate (Roundup) can be used to kill chives in areas like driveways and patios. Glyphosate is absorbed through the leaves and moves down to destroy the whole plant including the roots and bulbs. Treat chives with glyphosate in late summer or fall when the plants are actively growing. It may take several applications to fully eradicate a severe chive infestation.

In lawns, selective broadleaf weed killers with 2,4-D or dicamba can help control chives. Products containing these ingredients kill broadleaf weeds like chives but don’t harm grass. Spray over unwanted chives growing in the lawn, avoiding any desirable plants. 2,4-D is effective at killing the above ground chive foliage while multiple applications help destroy the bulbs. Always read herbicide labels carefully before using in lawns or gardens.

Preventing Chives from Spreading

To prevent chives from spreading out of control:

• Plant them in containers instead of directly in garden beds. Pots restrict bulbs and contain chives.

• Cut off flower heads before they go to seed. Removing flowers prevents self-seeding.

• Divide large clumps every 2-3 years to control spread. Replant divisions in pots rather than back in garden beds.

• Pull out unwanted small chive plants as soon as spotted. Don’t let them grow and spread.

How to Completely Eradicate Chives

With persistence, you can fully get rid of invasive chives. Here are some tips:

• Combine manual digging with frequent mowing to weaken chives. Digging removes roots while mowing starves bulbs.

• After digging or mowing, cover the area with landscape fabric or cardboard to block light and prevent regrowth.

• Solarize the soil by placing clear plastic sheeting over chive infestations during hot sunny weather. The heat kills chives and sterilizes the soil.

• Use non-selective herbicides like glyphosate in areas away from desirable plants. Follow up with a pre-emergent herbicide to stop future growth.

• For large infestations, rent a tiller or cultivator to churn up and disrupt the soil to extract roots and bulbs.

• After removing chives, plant competitive groundcovers like vinca or pachysandra to prevent recolonization.

• Monitor areas where chives were removed and immediately eliminate any new growth before it can spread again.

FAQs About Controlling Chives

How do you stop chives from flowering and going to seed?

Cut off flower heads as soon as they appear, before they have a chance to bloom. Also mow or shear foliage frequently to prevent flowering stems from developing.

What’s the best herbicide for getting rid of chives?

Glyphosate (Roundup) works on chives growing in areas away from other plants. 2,4-D and dicamba work well in lawns by killing chives but not harming grass.

How long does it take for chives to die after applying herbicide?

It depends on the product used. Glyphosate may take 1-2 weeks to kill chives while 2,4-D can take 2-3 weeks. Pre-emergent herbicides prevent regrowth for 3-4 months.

Can boiling water kill chives?

Yes, boiling water poured directly on chives can effectively kill them. However, it only treats above ground growth. Repeat applications are needed to destroy roots and bulbs.

Do chives spread by seeds only or also underground?

Chives spread both by small black seeds from flowers as well as underground via bulblets that detach from mature bulbs.

Controlling chives takes time and effort, but is definitely possible. Be diligent about digging, mowing, and monitoring areas where chives have spread. Herbicides provide chemical control but should be used carefully. With persistence, you can rid your lawn and garden of invasive chives for good.