How To Get Rid Of Purslane In Lawn

How To Get Rid Of Spotted Spurge In The Lawn

This weed invades weak areas in lawns, landscaping beds, sidewalk cracks and vegetable gardens.

A spotted weed that thrives in the heat of summer, spotted spurge is an unsightly nuisance that not only takes up residence in weak areas of the lawn, but also invades landscape beds, sidewalk cracks, and vegetable gardens. Spotted spurge is easily recognized by its hairy red stems that branch out from a central point, tiny dark green leaves with a red spot, and dense, mat-like shape. This annual weed germinates in mid-spring and produces inconspicuous, tiny green flowers all summer long. In addition to its signature red spots, spotted spurge can be distinguished from other weeds by the milky sap that is produced when any part of the plant is damaged. In thin areas of the lawn, it can form a thick mat that can be up to 3 feet across.

What Are Purslane Plants

Portulaca oleracea also known as purslane is in fact an edible garden weed that offers myriad health benefits.

Portulaca in Latin means gate, which is the gate covering the capsule of the seed, and oleracea also in Latin meaning kitchen vegetable.

It is a popular weed in gardens and other cultivated areas, in planting beds, and along the edges of turfgrass.

Purslane weed is succulent, and just like a cactus stores moisture in its fleshy leaves. It invades bald or thin patches of your lawn, and tends to quickly dominate weak grass, but has far less chance of success competing with fast growing grass and a dense lawn.

The ability to store moisture makes it somewhat drought resistant, and able to thrive in dry, poor soils.

This summer, annual broadleaf weed can re-root itself from even a single fragment of leaves or stem left in the soil. Whats worse is that a mature plant can shed up to 50,000 purslane weed seeds for new growth.

Is Purslane Weed Safe

Purslane is actually an edible plant, so it poses no danger to humans or pets. Folklore suggests that purslane was one of our first vegetables and all parts of the plant can be consumed, either cooked or raw, Mann says. Its taste is described as lemony or similar to spinach. The flavor reaches its peak if the fleshy leaves are picked while young and tender.

Before adding purslane to your garden salad, however, be sure that it hasnt been treated with fertilizers or herbicides. And make certain youve correctly identified it. Purslane can be used in kitchen recipes, says Wagner. However, it closely resembles spurge in appearance, which is poisonous.

Don’t Miss: How Often Should I Weed And Feed My Lawn

Kill Purslane Weed Seeds

Even after reseeding with grass, you may see purslane seedlings coming up along with your new grass. You might think youre in for the same battle all over again, but youre not. Purslane seedlings are much less hardy than mature plants.

Purslane seedlings can be killed with an emergent weed killer. Look for one including dicamba, 2,4 D, or both types of herbicide. These are selective weed-killing compounds that will kill purslane without killing grass.

If you want to go the natural route, use a vinegar-based plant-killing solution on purslane seedlings or hand-pull these seedlings.

Hand Pulling Purslane Weeds

Hand pulling is the best way to get rid of purslane weeds, and can be fairly easy because purslane covers a large area, making it easy to clear in one go.

However, hand pulling is often not recommended, because it can leave behind a small part of the plant stem or root, which will continue to grow.

To remove it by hand:

1. Locate the center of the clump or rosette, and with a little force, pull up firmly, ensuring you take out the entire root.

2. Put the pulled purslane plant in heavy-duty trash bags, so it cant scatter any seeds.

3. Check the area for purslane seeds, leaf fragments, and stems, and get rid of them.

Don’t Miss: Where Can I Get Trump Lawn Signs

Most Common Lawn Weeds With Yellow Flowers

Common lawn weeds with small yellow flowers are Yellow Sorrel, Purslane, Black Medic, and Golden Clover. Some creeping lawn weeds with yellow flowers are Creeping Buttercup and Creeping Cinquefoil. Other lawn weeds with yellow flowers include Dandelions, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Black-Eyed Susans, Lesser Celandine, Marsh Yellowcress, Narrow-Leaf Plantain, and Wild Parsnip.

How To Prevent Purslane Weed From Coming Back

Purslane is famous for its staying power. Overlooked fragments of leaves and stems can germinate into a full-grown invasion in a single season. Mature plants are aggressive seeders, casting seeds over large areas of your lawn that can lie dormant for decades. Youll likely battle purslane for years if you dont eradicate it properly to nip the problem in the bud.

Here are some helpful tips to avoid a frustrating resurgence:

• Purslane is a weed that is well-controlled by following best management practices for your lawn and landscape, Mann says. Keeping your mowing height on the tall side and lawn properly fertilized to encourage a vigorous healthy stand of turf will keep purslane and many other weeds at bay.

• Try to tackle your purslane problem while the plants are young to avoid scattering seeds. If you are hand-pulling mature plants, cover the cleared area with a black plastic gardening tarp or heavy-duty trash bags for four to six weeks. The sunlight on the black plastic heats the topsoil to kill any residual seeds and blocks sunlight from any purslane fragments that attempt to sprout again.

• Remember to bag any pulled purslane in plastic or paper. Dont add the plants to your compost or you will reseed them in your yard when you spread the compost.

• Create a three-inch barrier of mulch to prevent low-growing purslane from taking up residence.

Also Check: Is It Too Late To Aerate My Lawn

Soil Solarisation To Kill Purslane Seeds

Soil solarisation is a technique used to kill unwanted seeds lying dormant in the soil. The idea behind it is to raise the temperature of the soil beyond the ideal conditions for the seeds.

Image Credit:http://www.diggermagazine.com/

Yard owners can effectively kill purslane seeds in their gardens by following these steps.

• This method works best during the summer months when the temperatures are high and the plants are in the sapling stage or are yet to sprout.
• Begin by moistening the soil by using a sprinkler or watering can. This will help in increasing the humidity in the soil.
• Cover a purslane-infested area with a black plastic tarp or high-quality trash bags. Hold the cover in place using rocks or heavy objects to weigh the plastic down.
• Leave the tarp for 4-6 weeks and allow the temperature to rise.
• The black plastic will trap all the heat and bring the soil temperature to over 50 degrees Celsius, thus killing all purslane seeds in the soil.
• The absence of sunlight will kill all the budding purslane plants and prevent resprouting and re-emergence of these weeds in that region.

Lawn Weeds With Yellow Flowers

Lawn weeds come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I have seen green weeds, red weeds, weeds with white flowers, and even weeds with blue flowers. But the weeds I see everywhere are lawn weeds with yellow flowers! Yellow weeds are by far the most common lawn weed and I will help you identify the 10 most infamous offenders. Youre highly likely to see at least one of these pop up on your lawn at some point.

Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Lawn Mower Blades

How To Prevent It From Returning

Two known ways can permanently stop purslane from regrowing in your garden.

• The first is to use a heavy-duty trash bag or a black plastic tarp to cover the areas where you freshly hand-pulled or weeded purslane. Put something heavy on it and let it be for about six weeks. This will increase the temperature of the soil to the degree that would kill any purslane seed still existing in the soil.
• The second is to have a barrier of mulch or other ground covering that would prevent the purslane from regrowing. Since the weed is a low-growing plant, things like ornamental rocks, bark mulch, and so on can stop the growth of purslane in your garden permanently.

How To Get Rid Of Purslane 4 Effective Methods

Homeowners across the country take up gardening as its a relaxing activity that brings peace at the end of a challenging, long day. Theres tranquility in mowing your lawn, planting seeds, watering your plants, and doing gardening-related tasks. Not only is this activity akin to therapy, but the colorful flowers and neatly trimmed bushes also do the job of beautifying a house.

The problem, however, comes in the form of unwanted visitors to a prospering garden. Youve guessed it right were talking about weeds overtaking beautiful yards and creating issues for the avid gardener. This issue can be pretty vexing to budding and professional landscapers as the weeds tend to come back to the backyard year after year.

Out of the various types of weeds capable of growing in a yard, were discussing the one known as the comeback king. For those of you wondering, were referring to the annoying weed purslane.

Fret not! Were here to provide DIY gardeners with four effective methods and additional information on eliminating these pesky weeds from their backyard.

The best ways of getting rid of Bindweed include Hand Pulling, Soil Solarisation, Using a Broadleaf Herbicide, and Mulching.

If you want to get rid of purslane by yourself, you can do that either by using organic methods such as pulling it by hands, solarizing the soil, using a broadleaf herbicide, or mulching. Or you can apply the inorganic technique, such as herbicides, that can kill the purslane.

Also Check: What To Do With Brown Patches On Lawn

Ways To Avoid A Purslane Invasion

Control Kill And Get Rid Of Spotted Spurge With Monterey Weed Killer

Monterey Spurge Power 16oz is another spurge weed killer that will control, kill, and get rid of other weeds in your garden, lawn, landscapes, and yard.

It can be used as both pre and post-emergent herbicide for spurge plants. It is branded as one of the best weed killers for spotted spurge weed control .

Also Check: What Can I Put On My Lawn To Kill Weeds

How To Prevent Purslane From Growing In Your Lawn And Garden

You can use cultural controls to prevent the purslane weed and other weeds from growing in your landscape. For instance, soil solarization is a popular cultural control for preventing the growth of purslane weeds. You can cover moist soil with a clear plastic sheet during the summer months. Also, you can apply a black plastic gardening tarp or commercial landscape fabric beneath a thick layer of organic mulch to prevent purslane weeds from sprouting.

Also, take care when mowing purslane. Grass clippings that contain purslane parts can exacerbate your weed problem. Place grass clippings containing purslane in a paper or plastic bag and dispose of it along with other weeds.

Does Purslane Come Back

Yes. they come back and in some cases, they can throw their seeds some distance away from the mother plant. Making them grow in other areas of the garden. It also can re-root or form new plants if not disposed of properly.

Because even after uprooting it, purslane seeds can continue to mature and form new roots. It is not enough to use a plant extractor garden tool. You have to pick up every piece of the weed from the soil and throw it in a plastic garbage bag as waste.

Read Also: Who Makes Exmark Lawn Mowers

Is It Safe To Eat Purslane

Though it is a weed, purslane is 100% edible. This succulent plant contains about 93% water, quite similar to cabbages. It has long red stems and small green leaves.

It has a sweet, slightly sour, and salty taste, close to the taste of spinach and watercress. It is excellent for salads and sandwiches and can blend well with salad herbs. In other countries, It also used in soups and stews as a thickener.

And also recommendable for stir-frying.

In the United States, this weed is a minor crop used in ethnic ways of cooking. Other cultures call it by different names. It is commonly known as verdolaga in Spanish.

It is khorfeh in Iran and fattoush in Lebanese. It is also found in Persian dishes.

Known to have plenty of health benefits, it has lots of beta-carotene and contains Omega-3 fatty acids. Also has antioxidants, vitamins, and amino acids.

Purslane contains the highest concentration of vitamin A among green leafy vegetables. It also has vitamin C and B-complex. It provides magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, and calcium nutrients.

It has small traces of folate, copper, and phosphorus. Not only is this plant edible it is richly packed with lots of nutritional benefits as well. This green plant has only 16 calories.

Some purslane variations grow upright and have much larger leaves for commercial value. It is available in local stores as a vegetable because of its nutritional qualities.

Common Purslane Common In Late Summer

Common purslane is typically a late-germinating summer annual broadleaf weed. Ive seen much of it growing happily recently. I think common purslane is interesting in that some curse its appearance in their garden while others embrace it. Again, we are reminded that a weed is only a weed if it is unwanted where it is growing. The primary redeeming quality to purslane is that it is edible and recipes abound online. Ironically, one weed book I have calls it a “good weed.” Notably, there are several cultivated, flowering, ornamental types of Portulaca that should not be confused with this weedy common type.

The stems of common purslane are succulent , smooth, often reddish, and prostrate. They can reach to approximately 24 inches in length and form a prostrate mat. The leaves are thick, fleshy, shiny, and smooth. They are alternate to nearly opposite, rounded at the tip but narrowed at the base, and up to 1¼ in. long. They are often clustered near the ends of branches. Overall, this plant is very reminiscent of a jade plant.

Common purslane close up. Michelle Wiesbrook. University of Illinois.

The flowers appear July through September. They are yellow with 5 petals, borne individually in the leaf axils or clustered at the ends of branches. The fruit is a globular capsule that splits at the middle.

A raised bed full of common purslane. Michelle Wiesbrook. University of Illinois.

Recommended Reading: Is It Cheaper To Fertilize Your Own Lawn

Types Of Creeping Lawn Weeds And How To Get Rid Of Them

Imagine creeping lawn weeds appearing in your yard when you wake up in the morning. Its not a happy sight, but their growth isnt inevitable. You can learn about types of creeping lawn weeds and how to get rid of them.

There are many ways to find out which plants are weeds, how to get rid of them, and how to prevent them from growing again. We will cover that and more today in this guide on creeping lawn weeds.

How To Prevent Purslane From Growing

Purslane is particularly hard to rid yourself of for good. It has very strong staying power. So, to prevent purslane from coming back, you should always keep an eye out for any sprouts or new purslane plants, particularly in the springtime.

Mulch around desirable plants with black plastic to block sunlight from reaching the ground. Purslane can grow under mulch without being noticed until it is too late. Mowing your lawn frequently and not allowing bark chips and grass clippings to accumulate around your garden also prevents purslane from growing.

Additionally, keeping a healthy and vibrant lawn will help keep purslane at bay because it wont be able to compete with all of the other plants and grasses for vital sunlight and nutrients.

Also Check: What Is The Best Brand Of Riding Lawn Mower

How To Kill Spotted Spurge

Spotted spurge can produce several thousand seeds per plant and quickly spread throughout weak areas of your lawn. The seeds produced in early summer will sprout almost immediately, while seeds produced later in the year will lie dormant in the soil until next spring. This warm-weather weed starts flowering and producing seed a mere 5 weeks after germination, so early detection and treatment are key.

Remove small patches. The flat shape and single taproot of spotted spurge makes it good candidate for hand-pulling if there are only a few scattered throughout the yard. This type of plant likes to break off at the stem, so make sure you get all of it when removing it by hand, or it will grow back. Since spotted spurge produces a sap that can be irritating to the skin, always wear gloves when hand-pulling. To help lessen the chances of it coming back, remove spotted spurge before it has a chance to flower and produce seeds.

Small patches of spotted spurge plants can also be killed using a read-to-use lawn weed killer, like Scotts® Spot Weed Control for Lawns. Be sure to follow label directions and only use on listed grass types.