Spurweed: The Annoying Lawn Invader
Springtime is here, and you’re excited to see your lawn turn into a lush, green carpet. But wait, what’s this? Those sticky, prickly plants popping up everywhere are spurweed, a common lawn pest.
What is Spurweed?
Spurweed, also known as lawn burweed, is a low-growing plant that loves to invade lawns, meadows, and roadsides. It has long, rangy stems covered in hairy leaves and sticky stems. The stems often have purple mottling, and the leaves are arranged in a palmate pattern.
Spurweed is an annual plant, meaning it completes its life cycle in one year. It emerges in winter and starts producing flowers in late spring. The flowers are small and cone-shaped, and they’re covered in sharp barbs.
Why is Spurweed a Problem?
Spurweed is a nuisance because it can be painful to walk on, especially with bare feet. The burs and barbs on the seed cones can get stuck in your skin and cause irritation.
Spurweed can also compete with your lawn grass for nutrients and water, making it difficult to maintain a healthy lawn.
How to Control Spurweed
There are several ways to control spurweed in your lawn:
Prevention
The best way to deal with spurweed is to prevent it from taking hold in the first place. Here are a few tips:
- Keep your lawn healthy and well-maintained. A thick, healthy lawn will be less likely to be invaded by weeds.
- Remove any spurweed plants that do pop up as soon as possible. This will prevent them from spreading their seeds.
- Use a pre-emergent herbicide in early fall to prevent spurweed seeds from germinating.
Treatment
If spurweed has already invaded your lawn, there are several post-emergent herbicides that can be used to control it. These herbicides should be applied when the spurweed plants are small and actively growing.
Some common post-emergent herbicides for spurweed control include:
- Dicamba
- 2, 4D
- MCPP
Be sure to follow the directions on the herbicide label carefully. Some herbicides may need to be applied more than once to be effective.
Additional Tips
- Apply herbicides on a calm day when there is no wind. This will help prevent the herbicide from drifting onto other plants.
- Keep children and pets away from the area where you’re applying herbicides.
- If you have sensitive grass, such as St. Augustine or Centipede grass, use a diluted herbicide solution to avoid damaging the grass.
With a little effort, you can control spurweed in your lawn and keep it looking its best.
