Month: May 2026

Scientific name: Plantago lanceolata

Lambs Tongue, also known as Plantain, is a common broadleaf weed that can quickly pop up in lawns, garden beds, and even along roadsides. If you’ve spotted it creeping into your lawn, here’s how to effectively get it under control.

Skip to: Where Does Lambs Tongue Grow? Key Identifying Features of Lambs Tongue, How Does Lambs Tongue Spread? How Can I Remove Lambs Tongue in My Lawn? How Can I Help Prevent Lambs Tongue from Growing in My Lawn?

Where Does Lambs Tongue Grow?

This weed is found across Australia, but most commonly grows in coastal areas. These weed seeds will germinate and spread in Autumn and Winter but can persist year-round due to their hardy perennial nature.

Key Identifying Features of Lambs Tongue:

• Spear-shaped, long, slender leaves.
• Forms in rosettes.
• Strong taproot.
• Slender flowering stems.
• Cylinder-shaped seed heads.
• Mature plants’ stem can grow as tall as 60cm with a small green flower at the ends.

How Does Lambs Tongue Spread?

This weed typically goes to seed from October through to March. This weed is a prolific seeder, with each flower capable of spreading a large number of seeds. Seeds are mostly spread by wind, water runoff, and underfoot.

How Can I Remove Lambs Tongue in My Lawn?

If there is only a small number of these weeds growing in your lawn, you can simply remove them by hand. As this weed does have a taproot, it is best to pull from the centre of the plant, where the taproot will be. If the weed has grown a bit larger, you may need to use a narrow trowel or a long knife to help loosen up the soil around the plant’s taproot.

If there are too many growing to pull out by hand, a dedicated broadleaf herbicide may be required. A great hose-on option is All Purpose Weed Control. To apply, clip onto your hose, turn your tap on and then spray. However, if concentrate products applied through a knapsack or pressure sprayer are preferred, Estate Herbicide is another ideal option.

How Can I Help Prevent Lambs Tongue from Growing in My Lawn?

This weed will commonly grow in areas with compacted soil or where grass growth is weak. In most cases, if you can keep your grass thick and healthy, it should deter this weed.

Some ways to help deter this weed from your lawn include:

• Aerate your area to help alleviate any soil compaction.
• Ensure you are mowing your lawn regularly to help encourage new and consistent growth.
• Stay on top of your lawns fertiliser applications to help your lawn stay thick and healthy.

For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here.

Pre- and post-emergent herbicides are essential tools for maintaining a healthy, weed-free lawn. Understanding how and when to use each type can make a significant difference in preventing and controlling unwanted weeds throughout the year.

Skip to: What are pre-emergent herbicides? What are post-emergent herbicides? How do I apply my herbicide?

What Are Pre-Emergent Herbicides?

These are herbicides designed to stop weeds before they even appear. They work by creating a barrier in the soil that prevents weed seeds from germinating and establishing. They are best applied at specific times of the year. Typically around early to mid Autumn and Spring, just before weed seeds begin to sprout. Pre-emergents are particularly effective against annual grassy weeds such as Crabgrass, Summer Grass, and Winter Grass.

Oxafert, which combines a herbicide with a fertiliser, is a great option as it allows you to feed your lawn while also preventing weed growth. An alternative option is Barricade, which is a liquid that is sprayed on to the lawn. For best results, pre-emergents should be applied before these weeds are seen in the lawn, as they will not remove anything that has already germinated.

What Are Post-Emergent Herbicides?

These herbicides are used to treat weeds that have already appeared. These products target actively growing weeds and are absorbed through the leaves, working down to the root to eliminate the plant. Post-emergents are ideal for tackling broadleaf weeds such as bindii, clover, and dandelion, as well as other more specific kinds of weeds like Nut Grass and Mullumbimby Couch.

All Purpose Weed Control is a popular option, specifically formulated to control a wide variety of broadleaf weeds and is safe for use on couch, bent, kikuyu, paspalum, buffalo, zoysia, fescue and rye lawns.

How Do I Apply My Herbicide?

Both types of herbicides can be applied in liquid or granular form. Although granular options are far less common for post-emergent herbicides, as a result, application methods differ slightly between the two. However, for pre and post emergent herbicides, you should always follow the application rates on the bottle. You should also check that it is safe for use on your turf type. For more herbicide application tips you can check out our blog here.

For pre-emergent application, Oxafert is a granular option best applied with a spreader and requires watering in after application. This allows the product to reach the soil where it prevents weeds from germinating. Barricade is a liquid option that is best applied with a sprayer and requires watering in after application.

For post-emergent application, All Purpose Weed Control is sprayed directly on to the lawn with the hose on bottle it comes in. Estate Broadleaf Herbicide is another option that comes as a concentrate. For application, it should be mixed in a knapsack and applied to the lawn with a sprayer.

You can find all the herbicides from this article online now on the Lawn Store.