
Type of Weed: Broadleaf Weed
Purslane
Purslane is a summer annual broadleaf weed, commonly found next to sidewalks and driveways, mulched natural areas, gardens, and lawns seeded in the summer. This succulent weed prefers warm conditions, sunny areas, and thrives in all soil types, allowing it to grow across the state of Texas. Purslane germinates in the spring and grows throughout the summer into the fall.
Purslane reproduces by seed and fragments of stem or leaves within the soil. Once matured, it can produce more than 50,000 seeds a year. These seeds can stay viable in the soil for forty years. This reproduction ability, combined with its prostrate growth habit, allows this weed the ability to overtake weak lawns and become a nuisance to remove.
How to Identify
Leaves are arranged alternately and clustered at stem joints. Purslane sprouts small, yellow flowers that have four to five notched petals. These flowers have multiple yellow stamens, pistils that bunch together in the middle, and are on leaf axils at stem joints.
Flowers can open on hot, sunny days, but only allow a single one per leaf cluster to open at a time. Flowers will turn into small, oval pods that contains multiple tiny brown-black seeds. Once the seeds mature, the pod bursts open to release the seeds.
Control Methods
Purslanes shallow root system makes hand pulling or digging up an effective option to remove this weed. This will be most effective while the plant is still young, and hasn’t begun to flower.
Dig up from the center rosette, pulling up all of the root, and disposing in a bag. Double check that you have removed all roots, fragments of stems, and leaves, as purslane can easily self-root again.
In the summer and fall, applications of a selective post-emergent herbicide can help slow down growth, especially if done prior to the weed flowering. In spring and late fall, applications of a selective pre-emergent herbicide can deter it from returning the following season.
Prevention Tips
Our team of expert lawn care technicians are equipped to handle purslane and any other broadleaf weed in your lawn or garden.
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