Spotted Spurge: identify it, treat it, keep it out
Spotted spurge is a heat-loving summer annual that forms flat, dense mats from a single taproot, often in thin lawn edges, sidewalk cracks, and droughty spots. It goes from seed to producing new seed in under five weeks, so a small June patch becomes a colony by August.
How to identify spotted spurge
- Flat, pancake-like mats that radiate from a central taproot
- Tiny oval leaves, each usually with a maroon-red spot in the center
- Stems bleed milky white sap when snapped (wear gloves, it irritates skin)
- Reddish, often hairy stems hugging the soil surface
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When to treat
Prevention (pre-emergent)
Apply before germination, when soil reaches about 60°F.
Window: Late spring
Typical dates: Before soil reaches 60°F consistently
Treatment (post-emergent)
Best time: Early summer when plants are small
Target stage: Young plants before they spread laterally
Conditions: Apply when weeds are dry · No rain for 24 hours · Temps below 90°F
Germination starts around 60°F soil temperature (optimal 75°F). Track your ZIP's live soil temperature or get an exact plan from the herbicide timing calculator.
Control plan
- 1Pre-emergent applied for crabgrass also controls spurge
- 2Hand-pull small patches before they spread and set seed
- 3Maintain thick, healthy turf to prevent establishment
- 4Post-emergent broadleaf herbicides are effective on young plants
Good to know
- • Low-growing summer annual that forms dense mats
- • Produces milky white sap when stems are broken
- • Small dark spot on each leaf helps identify it
- • Thrives in hot, dry conditions and thin turf
Products that work on spotted spurge
These picks are not filtered to your lawn. Some herbicides damage certain grasses (atrazine is for warm-season lawns; Trimec harms St. Augustine). Verify your grass type on the product label before applying, or use the herbicide timing calculator for grass-filtered recommendations. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
curative
SpeedZone EW Lawn Weed Killer
Fast-acting lawn weed killer for cool-season lawns that targets dandelion, clover, spurge, plantain, and other listed weeds.
Spurge is easiest to control while young and actively growing.
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preventive
Barricade 4FL Herbicide Concentrate (4 Fl Oz)
Prodiamine pre-emergent concentrate for established lawns when the guide specifically calls for long-residual crabgrass prevention. The 4 oz bottle treats roughly half an acre at the standard label rate.
Prevention matters because spurge spreads low and fast from seed.
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tool
Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader
Simple broadcast spreader for granular fungicides, grub control, fertilizer, and recovery products that need even coverage.
Use for the prevention pass before spurge germinates.
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Where it's most common
Frequently asked questions
Is spotted spurge dangerous to touch?
The milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, and it is mildly toxic to pets if grazed in quantity. Wear gloves when hand-pulling. Pulling works well since the plant grows from a single taproot.
How do I stop spurge from coming back all summer?
Spring pre-emergent at the crabgrass window suppresses the first flush, but spurge germinates all summer in hot soil, so density is your real defense: raise mowing height and thicken thin edges so sunlight never reaches bare soil.
Why is spurge always along my driveway?
Reflected heat. Pavement edges hit the high soil temperatures spurge seeds prefer, and lawns are usually thinnest there. Water and feed those edges a little better and the strip stops being an incubator.
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