Bindii Weed Control in Your Lawn & Garden

Bindii - also called Jo-Jo Weed or Onehunga - is a low-growing, spreading weed. Fern-like leaves (similar to carrot leaves) are attached to stems which grow from the centre in a rosette form. Plants generally grow 4 cm in diameter and are covered in fine hairs. Flowers are very small (3 mm) and are a greenish-yellow. Seeds are light-brown, flattened and have winged seeds with one especially long spine on the end - capable of piercing the skin.

Bindii flowers are produced in autumn and winter and mature into seeds in spring and summer. Seeds drop from the plant in late spring to mid-summer and are further spread by foot traffic or on the fur or paws of animals.

Bindii Weeds can be brought in on clothing, shoes, on animals including pets, vehicles and tools such as lawn mowers. They can also be carried and brought in by water.

To selectively kill Bindii weed, and various other broadleaf weeds, in common lawns like Kikuyu and Couch, spray the entire lawn with Yates Weed'n'Feed Weed Killer & Lawn Fertiliser.

For Buffalo lawns use Yates Weed'n'Feed Buffalo Lawn or Yates Lawn Weed Killer Bindii & Clover Buffalo Lawn, which have been specially designed to be safe for buffalo lawns. Yates Weed'n'Feed products have the added benefit of providing nutrients to green the lawn.  Please ensure you have read and understood all label instructions prior to every use.

As seeds are produced in spring and summer, the best time for control is late autumn, winter and early spring, well before they have set seed.

Kill Bindii weeds as soon as you notice them, and control them before they set seed.

When out and about, if you notice Bindii seeds on your shoes, clothes, pet, vehicle or tools, pick them off as best you can and place them in the rubbish bin.

Bindii weeds grow really well in compacted soils. Aerate the soil in the lawn with a garden fork for small areas, and a soil corer for medium and large areas, then apply some Yates Gypsum Clay Breaker Soil Improver and lawn topdressing. Topdressing can be done a few times a year, depending on how compacted the soil is, and is best applied during the warmer months.

For better lawn growth and improved soil health, use an organic based fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter Lawn Food. For gardens, use Yates Dynamic Lifter Plant Food & Soil Improver. 

For lawns that are particularly weed infested, if the lawn is more than a quarter covered in weeds, it might be worth considering installing a new lawn.

Mow the lawn at a height of 8 cm, especially during summer. This will help the lawn out-compete Bindiis and other weeds.