On many occasions, wild strawberry plants are a welcome addition to an edible garden. If they aren't contained, wild strawberries can develop into a huge problem. You can find these perennial weeds all throughout the US.
Wild strawberries spread by stolons, which are running stems located just under the soil. They can be up to a few feet long, so weed control can be a challenge. Once established, wild strawberries are much harder to eradicate, so treat the resilient weeds as soon as you find them.
Fortunately, wild strawberries grow slowly, so a well-kept turf can deter weed establishment. If you pull out the weeds manually, remove all plant parts to avoid re-growth. Problem areas are more effectively treated with a Roundup® Brand Weed & Grass Killer. Apply the product only to the weeds. To avoid damaging your lawn, either shield it with cardboard or wipe the weed with a cloth that's been dipped into the product.
Each hairy weed stem carries three dark green, notched leaflets. Clustered white flowers produce tiny red berries from April until June. The leaves and fruit of this ground-hugging weed resemble the standard strawberry plant, but are much smaller in size.
