What is that viney-looking weed growing along my driveway and sidewalk edges and creeping into my landscape beds?" you may be asking. That is the troublesome summer, broadleaf weed called Spotted Spurge. Spotted spurge grows outwards from a thick root, staying close to the ground, forming a dense, ugly mat. The leaves have an oval shape with a red spot in the center, thus giving this particular spurge its name. The entire plant can have a hairy appearance. If the stems break apart, they can ooze a milky white sap which can be irritating to the skin.

Spurge loves to grow on the corners and edges of your lawn, against your sidewalks and driveway, where ground temperatures are hottest. The spurge plant goes to seed and spreads quickly and can easily grow several inches in a week. Spurge must be killed on contact. so be sure you are on lawn application plan designed to target this and all other weeds that love the summertime heat . If a spurge is allowed to grow too large or you find the spurge plant growing in your landscape beds, it may become necessary to pull this weed out by hand. When pulling spurge by hand, pull at the stem, taking care to remove the entire root. Take care to wear gloves as a precaution from getting the milky sap onto your hands.