Prickly Lettuce

How to Get Rid of Prickly Lettuce

Characteristics

• Lactuca serriola
• winter annual weed
• germination begins at the start of winter
• 2-7” tall
• grows as a rosette of basal (leaves are grouped from a central point in a circular shape) during the first year
• irregularly loped leaves with prickly edges
• texturally resembles lettuce
• exudes a milky juice when cut or broken
• flower heads are yellow and resemble small dandelion  flowers
• flowering occurs from April through October

Treatment

Selective 

• apply in the fall or spring during active growth
• look for chemicals that contain 3 ways (2,4-D, MCPP and Dicamba), quinclorac, metulfuron-methyl and carfentrazone
• pre-emergent herbicides can be used and applied in the fall
• Make sure to properly identify your grass to make sure that the herbicide is safe for your lawn.  Choose your grass below to filter for products that are safe for your lawn:
• Bahia 
• Bent 
• Bermuda 
• Buffalo 
• Centipede
• Fescue
• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Rye
• Seashore Paspalum
• St. Augustine
• Zoysia

Non-Selective

• apply during the spring or fall
• spot treat trouble areas
• only target unwanted vegetation
• look for products that contain chemicals such as glyphosate
• click here for recommended products