How to Control Cinderella Weed in Your Lawn

Cinderella Weed (Synedrella nodiflora) is identified by its small, green, ovate leaves with serrated edges, yellow daisy-like flowers.

This weed is particularly troublesome in warm-season lawns such as Bermuda Grass, Couch, Buffalo and Kikuyu. Cinderella Weed thrives in many regions of Australia, especially in tropical and subtropical areas, where warm temperatures and high humidity create ideal growing conditions.

 Thanks to its rapid spreading and the increased competition for nutrients, Cinderella Weed will compete with lawns, especially in areas where the lawn canopy is thinning. This will exacerbate any thinning in the lawn canopy which can prove difficult to repair once the weed outbreak is controlled.

Cinderella Weed thrives in warm, moist conditions, making it a common problem in tropical and subtropical climates. It prefers nutrient-rich, disturbed soils and is often found in areas with poor lawn coverage.

It’s also a pest in other natural habitats like parks, plantation crops, roadsides and gardens, where disruption of the surface from cultivation of foot traffic can help spread the Cinderella Weed seeds.

The weed spreads primarily through its prolific seed production, with seeds easily carried by wind, water, and foot traffic. This rapid dispersal allows Cinderella Weed to quickly invade lawns, particularly in neglected areas with insufficient turf density.

Manual Removal

Manual removal of Cinderella Weed isn’t the most effective method, especially for larger outbreaks, thanks to the plant’s ability to spread seed, germinate and sprout quickly. Hand-pulling may only provide temporary relief from a Cinderella Weed outbreak.

Herbicides

For larger infestations, selective herbicides are the most effective option. Broadleaf herbicides containing active ingredients such as MCPA, dicamba, or clopyralid such as Bow and Arrow, Broadforce or Contra M Duo (though Contra is not safe for Buffalo lawns) are commonly used to control Cinderella Weed that has already sprouted.

It’s essential to choose a product that is safe for your specific grass type and to follow the label instructions carefully to avoid damaging your lawn, as some active ingredients aren’t compatible with some grass types, and application rates have been pre-determined by the manufacturer to kills weeds whilst inflicting minimal stress on the healthy lawn.

Most broadleaf weed killers will show efficacy within a week of application, however repeated applications may be necessary for more established plants, or as new seeds germinate.

Cultivation

Maintaining a thick, healthy lawn is the best long-term defence against Cinderella weed. Regular mowing at the appropriate height, proper fertilisation and aeration help to create dense turf that crowds out weeds.

Reducing soil disturbance and improving drainage can also limit Cinderella Weed’s ability to establish.

Once the outbreak is controlled you can look to a pre-emergent herbicide like Spartan, Barricade or Onset GR which will neutralise any seeds in the soil before they germinate, stopping Cinderella Weed and any other foreign weeds from ruining your perfect lawn. 

Most pre-emergents will want to be watered into the soil layer and will provide enduring protection for up to six months, depending on rainfall levels and the climate in your region.

Pre-emergent herbicides are typically applied in Spring to protect your lawn through Spring and Summer, then again at the start of Autumn to protect through Autumn and Winter.

A Cinderella Weed outbreak can take hold of any lawn in Queensland and Northern NSW, and spread quickly, threatening the health of your green patch of paradise. Luckily, Cinderella Weed can be staved off by keeping a healthy lawn with a dense canopy, while outbreaks can be controlled using selective herbicides and future germination suppressed with a quality pre-emergent. 

 Visit the myhomeTURF online store for a wide variety of herbicides suitable for controlling Cinderella Weed.