Spurrey (Spergula arvensis)
Spurrey is a fine, wiry annual weed that commonly appears in newly sown lawns and establishing turf, especially on acidic or sandy soils. It germinates mainly in autumn and spring, forming thin, needle-like leaves that can be easily mistaken for new grass seedlings.
Although small, spurrey can form dense mats that smother young grass and prevent proper establishment. Once flowering, it produces small white blooms and sets large quantities of seed that can remain dormant in the soil for many years. Because of this, spurrey often reappears suddenly when lawns are renovated or topsoil is disturbed.
This weed prefers low-fertility, acidic conditions and is particularly troublesome in lawns with poor drainage or compacted soil.
Identification
Spurrey has sprawling stems with very narrow, grass-like leaves arranged in tight clusters along the stem. Each cluster resembles a small whorl of fine needles. The stems are thin and flexible, spreading outward to form loose mats close to the soil surface.
The small white flowers appear at the tips of stems and are easily missed until large patches bloom, sometimes giving lawns a faint white appearance from a distance. The leaves lack the papery sheaths found in similar weeds such as sand spurrey, and the flowers are pure white rather than pinkish-purple.
Why It’s a Problem in lawns
Spurrey competes directly with establishing turfgrass for light and nutrients, quickly forming dense mats that suppress new seedlings. In mature lawns, it creates a patchy, uneven appearance and can leave bare spots once it dies off.
Because its seed bank persists for years, the weed can reappear long after it’s been eradicated, especially following soil disturbance during renovation or reseeding. Acidic soil conditions and poor turf density give spurrey the perfect environment to thrive.
Management and Prevention
Long-term prevention of spurrey starts with improving soil conditions and maintaining dense turf cover to reduce open soil where seeds can germinate.
Cultural control methods:
- Correct soil acidity: Apply lime to raise pH if the soil is acidic. Spurrey thrives in sour soil.
- Improve drainage: Aerate compacted areas and topdress with sand or soil conditioner to reduce moisture buildup.
- Maintain dense turf: Overseed bare patches in autumn or spring to limit open soil space.
- Fertilise appropriately: Balanced lawn feeding helps grasses outcompete weeds.
- Avoid soil disturbance: Minimise deep cultivation during renovation to prevent dormant seed from resurfacing.
Manual control:
Small infestations can be removed by hand before flowering. Because the roots are shallow, it pulls out easily, but all material should be removed before seed set.
Chemical Control:
Spurrey is tolerant of many common lawn herbicides, including MCPA and MCPB, which are usually ineffective. Early treatment while the weed is young gives the best results.
Effective herbicides include:
- Bentazone (Basagran, Pulsar) – excellent for young lawns and establishing turf.
- Flumetsulam (Preside) – suitable for early control in young pastures or turf.
- Mecoprop/ioxynil/bromoxynil mixtures (Image) – effective on young spurrey in turf.
Spurrey becomes harder to kill once mature, so apply herbicides when it’s still a seedling. Correcting soil acidity with lime will also reduce the risk of reinfestation.