Control of Low Euphorbia

Cultivating Spurges

• Hand-pulling or hoeing out low spurge plants often controls small patches. Moistening the ground beforehand makes it easier to remove the entire root system. Cultivating in dry soils promotes stem breakage, which leaves little pieces of the plant behind and allows the weed to regenerate. If low spurge pops up in your vegetable garden, cultivating the infested soil at least 4 inches deep can help control its spread. Thoroughly clean all of your cultivating equipment after removing spurge from your landscape. Any small root segments left on the tool can easily start a new infestation elsewhere.

Mulching Low Spurge

• Using organic mulches in vegetable gardens and ornamental plantings helps control low spurge populations by preventing sunlight from reaching the plants. The lack of light interferes with photosynthesis, and the weeds starve to death before producing seeds. Applying a layer of mulch about 2 inches thick works well when using finer organic materials such as straw and compost. If you select a larger, coarser mulching material, such as bark chips, spreading a 3- to 4-inch layer of material over the soil will be more effective for weed-killing purposes. Organic mulch needs to be replenished to its initial height as it decomposes.

Spreading Preemergent Herbicides

• Using a preemergent herbicide can help prevent spurge outbreaks if you apply it in late winter before the seeds have a chance to sprout. The University of California recommends using an herbicide containing dithiopyr, pendimethalin or trifluralin. Preemergent herbicides come in various formulations, including easy-to-use, dry granules. Following the manufacturer's instructions, spread about 7 ounces of granules over each 100 square feet of treatment area. Give the treated soil about 1/2-inch of water immediately following application to help the chemicals enter the soil and activate their weed-preventing properties.

Spraying Postemergent Herbicides

• Postemergent herbicides containing glyphosate can often help control more mature spurge plants. Combine about 5 tablespoons of glyphosate-based product with 1 gallon of water to treat a 300-square-foot area. Carefully spray until the target weeds have thoroughly wet foliage because the leaves absorb the lethal chemicals and transfer them throughout the entire plant. The California Department of Food and Agriculture recommends treating splurge about every 30 days throughout the summer to make sure you kill the seeds along with the mature weeds.

Staying Safe

• All spurge varieties produce a milky, latex sap that can cause mild to severe skin or eye irritation. Protect yourself from oozing sap by wearing rubber gloves and protective eye wear when hand-pulling spurge. Avoid touching your face or eyes and wash your hands immediately afterward. When applying any type of herbicide, wear protective clothing, including goggles, work gloves, long sleeves, pants, socks and closed shoes. Make sure people and pets stay out of treated areas until the granules dissolve or the spray completely dries.