LawnSuite guide: Bindii (jo-jo) in lawns: how to spot it and when to act
Use this LawnSuite guide to recognise the problem before deciding what to do. Bindii is the weed behind the prickles that ruin barefoot summer. It grows quietly through the cooler months, and by the time you feel it, it has already set seed. The whole game is catching it early.
How to spot it
Bindii, also called jo-jo, is a small, ferny-leafed weed that grows flat to the ground. Its seed pods turn into the sharp prickles you find underfoot.
When it shows up
Bindii germinates in autumn and winter and sets seed in spring. Deal with it in winter to very early spring, before the prickles form.
Your grass type
Buffalo needs the most care: several broadleaf weed products that are fine on couch and kikuyu will damage or kill buffalo.
Lawn care that keeps it out
A well-fed, dense lawn is the best long-term weed control. Most weeds are opportunists that move into thin turf.
If you use a product
Use a selective herbicide whose label lists your turf type and bindii, and follow the label. If it doesn't say it's safe on buffalo and you have a buffalo lawn, don't use it.
Keep reading
Not sure it's bindii?
Create a free LawnSuite account in your browser and photograph the patch. Photo diagnosis uses Google Gemini vision to identify the likely weed, pest or disease and shows a confidence score for each result, so you can match it to the signs on this page before you treat.