Common Mallow
Malva neglecta

How to identify and manage Common Mallow Malva neglecta, a common lawn weed. Also called, cheeseweed, buttonweed or roundleaf mallow. Photos are included to help with weed id.

See more pictures of Malva neglecta here.

Mallow is often found in new lawns and gardens where it can be troublesome because it produces a lot of seeds. Its presence may indicate fertile soils.

It has a Long, deep taproot and a spreading growth habit. The leaves are rounded with five to seven distinct lobes. Pinkish-white flowers bloom in late spring and continue into the fall.

It can be confused with ground ivy. One way to tell the difference is to compare the stems - ground ivy stems are square, mallow stems are round.

Also Known As:

Roundleaved Mallow
Buttonweed
Cheeseplant
Cheeseweed

Characteristics:

Annual or biennial
Reproduces by seed
Pinkish-white flowers
Round leaves with five to seven lobes and heart-shaped base
Indicates fertile soils
Spreading growth from deep taproot
Edible - leaves can be used in salads

Common Mallow in Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn

Common Mallow Weed ID and Control

Weed Images

Mallow Taproot

Small populations can easily be controlled by hand weeding. And just like other annual weeds, pull them when they are young - before the seeds ripen and spread.

Chemical control: Using pre-emergent herbicides in the spring will help prevent weed seed germination.

Broadleaf herbicides applied in mid-spring through early summer when the plant is young and actively growing are most effective. Products that contain 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, clopyralid or triclopyr as an active ingredient can successfully control the plant. 2,4-D applied alone will just damage the leaves and then it will grow back.

Glyphosate (roundup) is non-selective and can also be used to kill mallow in landscape beds.

Vinegar-based (20% acetic acid) herbicides are considered a natural organic weed killer. They can be used as a non-selective herbicide in place of glyphosate and will kill annual weeds.

References:

University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign Turf grass Program: http://www.turf.uiuc.edu/weed_web/descriptions/mallow.htm