The bindi plant (bindi-eye) is a common annual weed known for turning lawns into a painful minefield due to its sharp spines. Understanding this low-growing plant’s characteristics and life cycle is the first step toward effective removal and reclaiming your lawn.
Identifying the Nuisance Plant
The scientific name for the bindi plant is Soliva sessilis, also known as Bindii, Jo-Jo, Onehunga weed, and Lawn Burweed. This broadleaf annual is easily identified by its prostrate growth habit, forming a dense, low rosette that hugs the ground. Its leaves are finely divided and feathery, often resembling parsley or carrots. The plant rarely grows taller than two inches, but the pain comes from its seed heads. These are small, hardened capsules containing sharply pointed achenes that develop close to the soil surface. Once the plant dies, these spiky burrs remain, ready to attach to shoes, clothing, and bare feet, which is the primary mechanism for their spread.
Understanding the Life Cycle of Bindi
Bindi is a winter or spring annual; its seeds germinate in the cool temperatures of fall and early winter. The plant grows actively during the cooler months, often going unnoticed while turfgrass is dormant. This allows the weed to establish a strong presence before warmer seasons arrive. In late winter to early spring, the plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers, quickly followed by the formation of sharp, spiky seed capsules. Once these hard burrs have formed, killing the plant will not remove the existing spines, which remain in the lawn. The plant naturally dies off as temperatures rise, leaving behind a new crop of seeds to germinate the following autumn.
Non-Chemical Control Strategies
Controlling bindi without chemicals relies on mechanical removal and cultural practices that create an unfavorable environment for the weed. Manual weeding is an option for small infestations, but it must be performed before the plant produces spiky seeds, typically in late fall or early winter. When pulling the weed, remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth. Cultural practices are effective for long-term prevention, as a dense, healthy turf provides competition that shades out the low-growing weed. Adjusting your lawnmower height to the higher end of the recommended range helps grass blades block sunlight from reaching bindi seedlings. Improving soil health and correcting issues like compaction or low nutrient levels will encourage a thick lawn that naturally resists weed invasion.
Effective Herbicide Treatments
For established or widespread infestations, chemical controls offer an effective solution, but timing is the most important factor. Herbicides are divided into pre-emergent and post-emergent options, each targeting a different stage of the weed’s life cycle. Pre-emergent herbicides are applied in the fall, typically around October or November when night temperatures consistently drop, to prevent seeds from germinating. Post-emergent treatments are applied after the weeds have sprouted but must be used before the plant develops seeds, generally meaning an application window from December through early March. Selective broadleaf herbicides are used because they kill the bindi without harming the surrounding turfgrass. Common active ingredients include three-way formulations of 2,4-D, dicamba, and mecoprop (MCPP), or specialty products containing metsulfuron or atrazine. Always confirm the chosen herbicide is safe for your specific type of lawn before application, as some turf varieties, such as centipede grass, can be sensitive to certain active ingredients.