Bindii

Small ferny bright green growths in your lawn in winter are the beginnings of the nasty prickles that will bother you in summer as they indicate bindii. The colder months are the time to deal with bindii (Soliva pterosperma) in lawns as it will soon flower and set seed. Once the seed is formed, even if the plant dies the seed will still prickle your feet and mean new plants will grow next year.

Environmental solution:

Bindii tend to grow in compacted soil, so aerate affected area with an aerator or a fork. If only a small area is affected, remove the weed with a knife. Later on in spring fertilise the lawn.

Chemical treatment:

Yates Bindii Weed Killer ($15 for 200mL) or Bin-die (around $15 for 200mL) are safe chemicals to spray, as some other sprays can harm nearby shrubs and plants. Spray lawns in winter to prevent prickles in summer.

Warning: Do not use sprays that contain dicamba near trees. It can kill trees even if it is only sprayed on nearby grass.

Copyright CTC Productions 2006