Weed Control
Purslane: How to Identify and Control It in a Lawn
Quick answer
Purslane is a succulent summer annual that reroots from stems left on the soil, so pull it and carry it off the lawn rather than leaving mats behind. A pre-emergent stops the next generation, and a three-way broadleaf product kills established mats in hot weather.
Purslane is the fleshy mat that thrives in the hottest, driest, most exposed ground you have: new lawns, sandy strips, the edge of a driveway, the bare patch nothing else will hold. Its thick succulent leaves and reddish stems store water, which is why it keeps growing through weather that stops the grass around it.
The detail that catches people out is what happens after you pull it. A pulled purslane plant left lying on soil reroots from its stems, and plants that have flowered can continue ripening seed after removal. Pulling without carrying the debris away is close to planting it. Measure the area for any preventive application with the lawn size calculator.
On this page
How do I identify purslane?
| Trait | Common purslane |
|---|---|
| Weed type | Broadleaf, succulent |
| Life cycle | Summer annual; killed by frost, returns from seed |
| Season | Warm season; thrives in peak summer heat and drought |
| How it spreads | Seed in large numbers, long-lived in soil, plus stems that reroot where they touch ground |
| Stem | Thick, smooth and succulent, usually reddish or purple-tinged, radiating flat from a central root |
| Leaf | Fleshy paddle or spoon-shaped leaves, smooth and rubbery, clustered toward stem ends |
| Sap | Clear and watery, not milky, which separates it from spurge growing in the same places |
| Flower | Small yellow flowers with five petals, opening in bright sun for part of the day |
| What it says about the lawn | Hot dry bare soil, thin or new turf, sandy or compacted ground |
Prostrate spurge grows in the same spots and also forms flat mats, but its stems are thin and bleed milky sap. Purslane stems are thick, succulent and bleed clear sap.
Why does purslane keep coming back?
Seed, mostly. A single purslane plant produces very large numbers of seeds, and they remain viable in soil for many years, so an area that once had purslane keeps producing seedlings. Every summer with bare, hot soil gives that seed bank another opening.
The rerooting habit compounds it. Broken stems and whole pulled plants regenerate if left in contact with moist soil, and plants pulled after flowering can finish ripening seed where they lie. That is why hand weeding purslane has to end with the debris carried off the lawn rather than raked into a corner.
The durable fix is the same as for the other hot-ground annuals: stop having bare, scalped soil in summer. Raise the cut, water deeply, and overseed thin strips in fall. See the mowing height chart and how to overseed a lawn. Seed choices are compared in the best grass seed, and the timing for a spring barrier is in when to apply pre-emergent.
What kills purslane in a lawn?
Purslane responds to ordinary broadleaf chemistry and to hand weeding done properly. The mistakes are leaving pulled plants on the ground and treating in extreme heat.
| Method | When | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Hand pull and remove | While plants are young, before flowering | Take the whole plant and carry it off the lawn. Stems left on soil reroot, and flowered plants keep ripening seed. |
| Pre-emergent herbicide | Spring, before summer annuals germinate | Reduces the seedlings emerging from a long-lived seed bank. Check that the label lists purslane. |
| Three-way broadleaf herbicide | On actively growing plants, within label temperature limits | 2,4-D, dicamba and mecoprop mixes control purslane. Succulent leaves can shed spray, so thorough coverage matters. |
| Watch the heat limit | Midsummer | Purslane peaks when turf is most heat-stressed, and most labels set a maximum application temperature to avoid turf injury. |
| Raise mowing height | Every mowing | Shade on the soil surface prevents germination in the first place. |
| Overseed thin and new areas | Late summer to early fall | New lawns and bare strips are where purslane starts. Density is the long-term answer. |
| Let frost finish it | Late season | It is an annual. Late treatments kill plants that are already ending, though removing seed-bearing plants still helps. |
Purslane is eaten as a vegetable in many cuisines, but do not harvest from lawns, which may have been treated with herbicide or fertilizer. Food growing belongs in a garden, covered at greenhousesetup.com.
Which products handle purslane?
Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer for Lawns Concentrate, 1 gal and Spectracide Large Plot Weed Stop for Lawns Concentrate, 1 gal are the broadleaf concentrates for established mats, covering 64,000 and 32,000 sq ft of northern turf respectively. Coverage matters on a succulent leaf, so follow the label on spray volume and any surfactant it calls for.
For prevention, Scotts Halts Crabgrass and Grassy Weed Preventer, 20.12 lb puts a granular barrier across 10,000 sq ft with no fertilizer attached, Lesco 0-0-7 with 0.43% Stonewall Pre-Emergent, 50 lb covers 12,500 sq ft, and Quali-Pro Prodiamine 65 WDG Pre-Emergent Herbicide, 5 lb is the sprayable prodiamine for people timing their own applications. Confirm purslane appears on the label of whichever product you choose, since listed weed ranges differ.
What gear helps with purslane?
Something to carry pulled plants away in, a sprayer for the mats you are not pulling, and a spreader for the spring barrier.
Rocky Mountain Goods Drawstring Leaf Tarp, 9 x 9 ft
$25.95A UV-treated poly tarp that cinches into a bag, which is exactly what purslane weeding needs since pulled stems reroot if left on the lawn.
Best for: hauling pulled weeds and debris off the lawn
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Chapin 16200 2-Gallon Pump Sprayer
$26.44A 2 gallon pump sprayer with an adjustable cone nozzle and nitrile seals rated for weed killer, sized for scattered mats.
Best for: treating mats along edges and bare strips
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Scotts Halts Crabgrass and Grassy Weed Preventer, 20.12 lb
$49.02A granular pre-emergent covering 10,000 sq ft, applied to a dry lawn in early spring with no fertilizer mixed in.
Best for: preventing summer annual seedlings
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We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
Why does purslane grow back after I pull it?
Because pulled plants reroot. Purslane stems are succulent and full of stored water, so a plant left lying on moist soil re-establishes from its stems, and plants pulled after flowering can continue ripening seed where they lie. Always carry pulled purslane off the lawn rather than raking it aside. The other source of regrowth is the seed bank, which stays viable for years.
Is purslane edible?
It is eaten as a vegetable in many cuisines and is widely grown deliberately. That said, do not harvest it from a lawn: turf areas are commonly treated with herbicide, fertilizer or pesticide, and pets use them. If you want purslane as food, grow it intentionally in a garden bed you control, which is a vegetable growing subject rather than a lawn care one.
How is purslane different from spurge?
Both form flat mats in hot, thin, exposed ground, so the confusion is understandable. Purslane has thick succulent stems and fleshy paddle-shaped leaves, and broken stems ooze clear watery sap. Prostrate spurge has thin wiry stems and small flat leaves often marked with a maroon blotch, and any break leaks milky white sap that irritates skin. Sap color settles it quickly.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.