Lawn burweed is a low winter annual that forms spiny burs in spring, making lawns painful to walk on barefoot.
- Scientific name
- Soliva sessilis
- Type
- Winter annual broadleaf
- Most visible
- February–May
How to Identify Lawn Burweed (Spurweed)
- Finely divided, parsley-like leaves
- Low-growing rosettes
- Spiny burs at leaf bases in spring
- Hard to see until burs form
When It Shows Up in Oklahoma Lawns
Germinates in fall; treat it in winter before burs harden in spring.
How to Control Lawn Burweed (Spurweed)
- Apply a fall pre-emergent
- Treat in winter while plants are small
- Keep turf thick with proper mowing height, watering, and feeding so seedlings can't establish