Spurge

Spurge is a fast-spreading summer annual broadleaf weed that thrives in hot, dry conditions and open, disturbed areas of turf. It’s often one of the first weeds to emerge in thin or compacted lawns. With its sprawling growth habit and ability to produce thousands of seeds, spurge can quickly cover bare spots and choke out desirable turfgrass.

How to Identify

Spurge forms dense, low-growing mats with reddish-green stems that exude a milky sap when broken—a key identifying feature. The leaves are small, oval, and grow in pairs along the stems, often with a reddish or purple spot in the center. The stems radiate from a central taproot and hug the ground, helping it escape mower blades. Tiny, pinkish-white flowers appear in leaf axils during summer.

Lifecycle

Spurge is a summer annual that germinates when soil temperatures reach around 65°F, growing rapidly during warm, dry months. It produces seed continuously through summer and dies back with the first frost in fall, leaving behind a large seedbank ready to germinate the following spring

Prevention & Control

The best control strategy is prevention and early intervention. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in spring before soil temperatures reach 65°F. For existing plants, selective post-emergent herbicides labeled for spurge control are effective when applied to young, actively growing plants. Maintaining dense turf, minimizing bare spots, and watering properly will reduce opportunities for spurge to establish. Always wear gloves when handling, as the milky sap can irritate skin.