Fall Is The Best Time To Control & Prevent Winter Burweed From Growing (& Here's How)

If you've ever walked across what looked like a lush, green lawn in bare feet and stepped on winter burweed (Soliva sessilis), you'll know exactly why you want to control this weed at the right time. In the warmer months, burweed produces small seeds that have sharp needle-like prickles commonly referred to as "stickers" because once they pierce your skin, they just won't let go. The best time to control and prevent this weed from growing in your lawn is in the fall, as this is when the seeds germinate. Apart from making your lawn impossible to walk on barefoot, winter burweed is also listed as a noxious weed in many southern states including Oregon, California, Florida, and Virginia. So, if you see this weed in your yard, you immediately want to get rid of it.

To control winter burweed, it's highly recommended that you apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn, and in case this doesn't stop all the seeds from germinating, it's also recommended that you apply a post-emergent herbicide again in winter while the weed is still small. If you wait until summer when the weed produces its burs, it will usually be too late to do anything about it because the stickers will stay in your lawn even if the weed dies.

If winter burweed is a problem in your lawn, wait until the fall to start your herbicide application. Around October, or as the temperature hovers around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, apply a pre-emergent herbicide that specifically controls broadleaf weeds, and has burweed listed on the label. Always follow the directions on the herbicide pack. It might be wise to reapply the herbicide eight weeks later if you had a heavy infestation in summer. Bear in mind that it's not worth using a pre-emergent on your grass if you're already seeing weeds. Also remember that applying pre-emergent is only half the battle to a healthier lawn. 

So, if you didn't manage to treat your lawn for burweed in the fall or you want to make extra certain that the weed won't invade your grass again, you can apply a post-emergent herbicide in winter, from December through to February. At this time, the weed will still be quite small and won't have developed its prickly seeds yet. Make sure that the herbicide you select is specifically for the control of burweed to ensure that it has the right active ingredients to kill the weed. Check with knowledgeable garden center staff if you're unsure and read the label to follow the correct application instructions.