How to Kill Bindis With No Insecticides or Poisons

Bindi, also known as jo-jo, is a common annual lawn weed. It usually causes the most trouble when its spurred seed capsules get caught underfoot. Luckily, these pernicious weeds are fairly easy to remove from the lawn without the use of insecticides or poisons. Simply digging these annuals is enough to kill them. But, according to the Western Australia Department of Agriculture, you must remove the roots or the plant will come back.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Shovel
• Garden soil
• Carpet square

Instructions

1. Water the lawn with 1 inch of water. Moist soil is much easier to dig.

2. Dig up each individual bindi plant. Remove the 4 ot 5 inches of soil beneath the bindi plant that contain its roots.

3. Discard or compost the weeds, roots and soil.

4. Fill the hole with garden soil.

5. Drag a scrap piece of carpet across the lawn to pick up any seed burrs.

References

• Government of Western Australia Department of Agriculture: Control of Jo-Jo (Also Known as Onehunga or Bindii Weed)
• University of California Pest Management Program: Puncturevine