Shining Geranium (Geranium lucidum) Control?

[tania]

Hello Weed Warriors!

Many of you may be grappling with how to control Shining geranium. Here are a few tips recently passed around the Willamette Weed list serve. Please feel free to add to the discussion by adding your own successes (and failures) for shining geranium control!

Christer LaBrecque from the City of Eugene has these suggestions:
CONTROL METHODS for G. lucidum include (1) hand-weeding for isolated plants or small populations, (2) burning with a propane-based flaming unit is effective if done several times each growing season, and (3) chemical control with a 1.5 – 2% solution of either a broadleaf selective herbicide, such as triclopyr, or a non-selective herbicide, such as glyphosate.

Jonathan Soll from The Nature Conservancy posted these guidelines:

"Just as for garlic mustard, control of these aggressive annuals (esp. G. lucidum) requires much more than the correct chemical.

Triclopyr, glyphosate or imazapyr should all kill it, but....

Because you are unlikely to get 100% control in 1 application, in-season follow-up is necessary to prevent seed set and
Because it seems to germinate at different times periodic spot checks and retreatment (hand-pulling individuals, spot spraying etc...) are essential
Finally, it appears to have some seed bank and so follow-up for additional years is a necessity.

Especially for G. lucidum, keeping it out is a lot easier than getting it out. Look for the small initial infestations, especially along roads and treat them aggressively a single year makes a huge difference.

Watch animal and human trails and parking lots."

Please feel free to use this forum share your own successes with shining geranium! Your fellow Weed Warriors will be thankful!

-Tania