Spurge
Euphorbia maculata
Spotted spurge is a highly aggressive summer annual broadleaf weed that loves the brutal heat of a Middle Tennessee summer. It germinates later in the spring than crabgrass, usually waiting until soil temperatures reach about 75°F. It thrives in poor, compacted soils and thin turf, often appearing in the cracks of sidewalks, along driveway edges, and in bare spots in the lawn.
Spurge grows in a prostrate, radial pattern, forming a dense mat that hugs the ground tightly, allowing it to easily evade mower blades. A single plant can produce thousands of seeds in just a few weeks, and those seeds can germinate immediately, leading to multiple generations of spurge in a single summer season.
How to Identify Spurge
- 1Grows flat against the ground in a circular, mat-like pattern.
- 2Leaves are small, oval, and arranged opposite each other along the stem.
- 3Most leaves have a distinct reddish-purple spot in the center.
- 4When the stem is broken, it oozes a sticky, toxic milky white sap.
Treatment & Control
Because spurge germinates later in the season, standard early-spring pre-emergents often wear off before spurge seeds become active. A split-application pre-emergent strategy (one in early spring, one in late spring) is the best preventative measure. For active plants, post-emergent broadleaf herbicides are effective, but they must be applied thoroughly to penetrate the dense mat. Core aeration is also highly recommended, as spurge thrives in the compacted clay soils common to our area.
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