My mother used to say, once the dogwoods bloom we could go barefoot! Don’t know if many people still go barefoot, but if you look at the picture of lawn burrweed, it appears to be soft and gentle on the toes! This weed of turf is one of the many low growing plants that will fill in where you have bare spots in your lawn.
One of the problems with lawn burrweed is it produces seed with sharp spines making going barefoot difficult. Maybe that is why it is also called spurweed and sticker weed. It will also grow to large patches in your lawn.
Lawn burrweed is a winter annual. Winter annuals germinate in the fall and overwinter in the turf or shrub beds as small plants. Once the temperatures begin to warm, plants grow rapidly, produce seed and die during our hot summer months, once temperatures reach 90 degrees.
Control lawn burrweed in December, January and February
The best way to control weeds in turf is to maintain a dense healthy lawn by applying lime and fertilizer following recommendations from a soil sample results. Also, mow at the appropriate height and frequency.
Lawn Burrweed is growing now and may be in your turf area. To control apply a post-emergence herbicide during the winter months. This is because the weed is smaller, easier to control and the sharp burrs have not developed. Control is not impossible in March, April and May but spines have already formed the burr or seed and this will remain in your lawn. For complete information on controlling Lawn Burrweed, follow this link: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/pdf/hgic2323.pdf
Please be sure to read and follow all label directions.
Disclaimer: The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by North Carolina State University nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned.
For information or if you have specific questions about your lawn or plants contact Shannon Newton, Area Horticulture Extension Agent, by email at Shannon_Newton@ncsu.edu.
