Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is a common invasive weed in Australian lawns, known by many names including Pickpocket, St James Weed, Shepherd’s Heart, but the consistent identifying factor is its heart-shaped seed pods atop a base of saw-toothed soft green leaves.
Fortunately, Shepherd’s Purse can be effectively managed by good cultural practices and readily available herbicides.
What is Shepherd's Purse?
This broadleaf weed is part of the mustard family and thrives in disturbed soils, making it a frequent problem in both residential and commercial lawns. Its broadleaf base and distinctive leaf shape can make it difficult to distinguish from Thistles or Catsear at a glance, however the distinctive, tall seed pods topped by small white flowers are a key identifier for Shepherd’s Purse.
What Causes Shepherd's Purse in Lawns?
Shepherd’s Purse is widespread across Australia, particularly in temperate regions with cooler winters. It tends to appear in lawns with poor soil health or bare patches, where it can easily take root.
This weed is found in all major grass types, including Buffalo, Couch, Bermuda, Kikuyu and Zoysia, particularly where turf is thin or under stress.
Shepherd’s Purse is most active during the cooler months of Autumn and Winter, but it can persist year-round in favourable conditions. It spreads aggressively through its prolific seed production, with each plant capable of producing thousands of seeds that can lie dormant in the soil for years.
How to Control Shepherd's Purse in Your Lawn
Manual Removal
Shepherd’s Purse sends down a main tap root, making it very easy to remove manually. Pull the horizontal, ground-covering leaves back to reveal the crown of the plant and use a small garden fork or special weed pulling tool to lever the plant out of the ground, being careful not to disrupt the seed pods.
Try and manually pull small outbreaks before flowers develop, and do your best to remove the entire tap root to ensure it doesn’t regrow.
Using Herbicides
For a more proactive approach, selective herbicides can be used. Commonly available broadleaf herbicides containing active ingredients such as MCPA, Bromoxynil or Dicamba are effective at targeting Shepherd’s Purse without damaging common warm-season grasses like Buffalo, Couch, Kikuyu, and Zoysia.
While these active ingredients have been proven to show efficacy against Shepherd’s Purse, some of the products containing them including Contra M Duo aren’t specifically registered for the control of Shepherd’s Purse. To ensure efficacy on the first application of any herbicide, it’s recommended to apply in conjunction with a surfactant like Wetter 600 for improved adhesion to the leaf.
When using chemical treatments, always follow manufacturer instructions when it comes to necessary protective equipment and safe re-entry times for humans and animals. Apply on a dry day with minimal wind to prevent drift onto desirable grasses.
Natural Remedies
Shepherd’s Purse can be removed from your lawn without the use of chemicals by hand-pulling the weed.
How to Stop Shepherd's Purse from Returning
To prevent Shepherd’s Purse from returning, applying a high-quality pre-emergent herbicide is a proactive solution. Pre-emergents work by creating a barrier in the soil that inhibits seed germination, effectively stopping weeds before they establish.
A good pre-emergent herbicide, such as those containing Prodiamine (such as Spartan in liquid form, or Onset GR in granular form) or Oxadiazon (like Echelon Duo or Oxafert), offers up to six months of protection against a broad range of invasive weeds.
This long-term approach not only reduces the need for repeated manual or chemical interventions but also contributes to a healthier, more resilient lawn with less pressure from invasive weeds.
Control Shepherd's Purse with myhomeTURF
Whether you’re looking for a quality pre-emergent to minimise the risk of Shepherd’s Purse invading your much-loved lawn, or you need a post-emergent herbicide to control a Paspalum outbreak, you’ll find all the supplements and chemicals you need to keep your grass in top shape at the myhomeTURF Online Shop; home to hundreds of market-leading products that ship Australia-wide.