Flick Weed in Australian Lawns: Identification, Causes and the Best Treatment Options

Flick weed (Cardamine hirsuta), commonly known as hairy bittercress, is one of the most aggressive winter and early‑spring lawn weeds in Australia. Its explosive seed pods allow it to spread rapidly, making early identification and fast treatment essential for maintaining a lush weed free lawn.

This guide explains how to identify flick weed, why it appears, and the most effective way to control it using Bow & Arrow Herbicide with Wetter 600 for improved performance.

What Is Flick Weed?

Flick weed is a small, fast‑growing broadleaf weed that produces tiny white flowers and narrow seed pods. When disturbed, these pods burst and eject seeds several metres, which is why the weed can spread across a lawn so quickly!

Key features include:

• Small rounded or lobed leaves forming a rosette
• Thin upright stems
• Tiny white flowers
• Seed pods that “flick” seeds when touched

Where Flick Weed Thrives in Australia

Flick weed is common nationwide and thrives in:

• Damp, shaded lawn areas
• Nutrient‑rich soils
• Lawns with frequent disturbance
• Cool seasons (autumn, winter and spring)

It grows quickly and can produce multiple generations per season.

How Flick Weed Impacts Your Lawn

If left untreated, flick weed can:

• Compete with turf for nutrients and sunlight
• Spread aggressively via seed flicking
• Create patchy, uneven lawn appearance
• Re‑germinate throughout the season

Because it sets seed early, delaying treatment allows the weed to multiply rapidly.

Best Way to Treat Flick Weed in Australian Lawns

1. Manual Removal (Suitable Only for Small Outbreaks)

Hand‑pulling can work if you only have a few plants, but the entire root system must be removed before seed pods mature. Once pods develop, even slight movement can spread seeds further. When removing be very careful not to disturb the seed pods which can cause them to flick seeds everywhere.

2. Post‑Emergent Control: Bow & Arrow Herbicide + Wetter 600

For most lawns, the most effective treatment is a selective broadleaf herbicide. Bow & Arrow Herbicide is ideal because it targets flick weed without damaging common Australian turf varieties such as buffalo, couch, kikuyu and zoysia.

Why Bow & Arrow Herbicide Works

Bow & Arrow contains a three‑way blend of actives that deliver:

• High efficacy on flick weed
• Strong systemic action for complete kill
• Turf‑safe performance across almost all Australian lawn types

Why Add Wetter 600 Surfactant

Flick weed has small, waxy leaves that can cause herbicide to bead and run off. Wetter 600 improves herbicide performance by:

• Increasing leaf coverage
• Enhancing absorption
• Reducing spray runoff

This ensures Bow & Arrow sticks to the foliage and penetrates effectively.

Application Guide

• Mix Bow & Arrow in your pressure sprayer at a rate of 50ml per 100sqm in 2-5L of water
• Add Wetter 600 at 2mL per 15L of spray solution
• Apply evenly across affected areas
• Avoid mowing 3–5 days before and after application
• Expect visible results within 10–14 days
• Reapply after 6 weeks if required

Preventing Flick Weed from Returning

Improve Lawn Conditions

• Increase sunlight exposure where possible
• Improve drainage in damp areas
• Maintain consistent mowing and fertilising
• Reduce soil disturbance
• Keep turf dense to limit weed establishment

Healthy, well‑maintained turf is the strongest long‑term defence against flick weed.

Summary: The Most Effective Flick Weed Treatment in Australia

Problem	Best Solution	Why It Works
Active flick weed infestation	Bow & Arrow Herbicide + Wetter 600	Selective broadleaf control with improved leaf penetration
Small isolated plants	Manual removal	Works only before seed pods mature

Final Recommendation

For Australian lawns, the Bow & Arrow + Wetter 600 combination remains the most reliable and turf‑safe way to eliminate flick weed. With consistent lawn maintenance and early intervention each season, you can keep flick weed under control and maintain a dense, healthy lawn.

Mighty Goat Lawns 🐐