Lambs Tongue (Plantago lanceolata)
Lambs Tongue, also known as Ribwort or Buckhorn Plantain, is a common perennial weed of turf and lawns found in all areas of Australia.
Buckhorn Plantain, is a weed that you should really try and keep out of your turf. It has a large root, is hard to kill, and relatively drought tolerant.
After you read this, you will be able to:
- Identify Lambs Tongue or Buckhorn Plantain.
- Know the habitat of Lambs Tongue.
- Know the best way to manage Lambs Tongue or Buckhorn Plantain.
Ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
Why is Lambs Tongue a Problem Weed?
- Lambs Tongue plants quickly spread and form dense populations that compete with desirable turf species for water and nutrients.
- Lambs tongue produces a large amount of seed, that are spread by the wind and water. This allows this weed to spread quickly and establish in new areas.
- The seeds contaminate equipment and then spread to new areas.
- Lambs Tongue thrives in a range of conditions, and tolerates drought.
- One of this plants unique characteristics is its ability to remain dormant for up to 177 years. This is one of the longest dormancy periods observed in all plants.
Buckthorn Plantain is an Indicator Weed of dry, low fertility soils, but it also tolerates drought and wide range of environmental conditions.
Our Weed ID Chart has more information on common turf and grass weeds.
The distribution map of Lambs Tongue is courtesy of The Living Atlas of Australia.
How to Identify Lambs Tongue.
Buckhorn Plantain is easy to identify as it has distinct slender parallel veins on hairy leaves that form 1 or more rosettes. However, at the seedling stage Ribwort Plantain appears similar to Wireweed.
It overwinters as a rosette, and the leaf, root crown and short underground stem act as storage organs. Slender, long flowering stems emerge from these rosettes, which have dense, brown, cylindrical seed heads. These often have white anthers sticking out of them.
Because of its height, this weed quickly spreads via the wind. This weed germinates in the cooler months in the late Autumn and the early Winter.
Photosynthetic Pathway. Lambs Tongue is a C3 weed, and has high frost tolerance.
Leaf length: Its leaves are long, narrow, and 3 to 30 cm long.
Leaf Width: The leaves are 8 to 30 mm wide.
Comments: You usually find Lambs Tongue is compact in turf but much more open and spreading in non-competitive situations.
Habitat: Buckhorn or Ribwort Plantain is often in poor lawns, turf, gardens, roadsides, and other high-traffic areas.
How to Control Lambs Tongue.
A combination of cultural and chemical control options will manage Ribwort, Buckhorn Plantain or Lambs Tongue. However, be aware that there is no 100% guaranteed cultural treatment that is successful to control Lambs Tongue in turf grass.
Autumn is an ideal time carry out control of this perennial weed.
Cultural Control of Lambs Tongue.
- The first step is to outcompete it. Lambs Tongue is not a great competitor so if you maintain a thick, healthy turf cover it is a major step to manage this weed.
- Make sure that you feed your turf properly, and use the right turf fertilizer. This helps to create a dense turf canopy that discourages Lambs Tongue.
- Mow at the right height for your turf type, as this also helps favour your turf over this weed.
- The second step to control Lambs Tongue is to hand remove individual plants. If the weed isn’t too widespread, it is easy to remove it by hand, and early removal of seedlings works if you keep at it.
- Make sure that you pull out the whole plant, and including its deep tap root. If you don’t, it will regrow a short-time after you remove it.
Once you remove this weed, renovate the areas and manage them to maintain a healthy turf sward.
Chemical Control of Lambs Tongue.
Select a suitable turf herbicide based:
- The turf type that present.
- Cost and
- Ease of application.
It is very important to apply herbicides at the correct time and rate, and don’t be shy to spot spray Lambs Tongue if it’s practical. Generally though, if it is widespread blanket treatment is more effective.
The best time to control all weeds is once they germinate, and are actively growing. The actual timing depends on whether the weeds in question are cool-season weeds or warm-season weeds. Lambs Tongue is a cool-season weed.
Pre-emergents for Lambs Tongue.
Pre-emergent herbicides prevent the germination of Lambs Tongue in turf.
- Indaziflam.
- Isoxaben, and
- Mesotrione. These are not necessarily registered for this weed in Australia so always make sure that you read the label.
Overseas work shows that Specticle herbicide provides excellent control of Ribwort Plantain from seed. However, it does not control older Lambs Tongue plants that are already present. Weeds such as Buckhorn Plantain that still have a living root system, will continue to grow when you apply Specticle.
Post Emergents for Lambs Tongue.
There are three important considerations with the chemical control of Ribwort Plantain.
- The best time to spray this weed is when it’s young and not well established.
- Combinations of 2 or 3 active ingredients give better control, than if you just use one active ingredient and
- The best post emergent control of Lambs Tongue occurs with an Autumn herbicide application. You may need several repeat treatments to kill weakened perennial weeds and new seedlings.
Repeat applications of post emergent broadleaf herbicides will control Ribwort Plantain seedlings. However, once this weed matures control is more difficult, and products containing 2,4-D work best.
Other options for Lambs Tongue include Bromoxynil, Carfentrazone, Dicamba, Mesotrione, and Penoxsulam. The latter two are not currently registered in Australia for this weed.
Quinclorac gives reasonable control of Buckthorn Plantain but doesn’t work very well on Broadleaf Plantain.
Products based only on MCPA will only suppress, and not kill, Ribwort Plantain. Suitable options include:
- Casper Herbicide. Do not use products containing Dicamba on Buffalo grass.
- Stature Herbicide. Not for home garden use.
- Quali-Pro Negate.
- ProForce Weed Blast MA.
- Warhead Trio.
- ProForce Contra M. Do not use Dicamba on Buffalo grass.
Table of post Emergent Lambs Tongue Herbicides for Use in Turf.
Product | Active | Chemical Group | Rate/Ha | Comments | ||||
Casper Herbicide. | Prosulfuron + Dicamba | 2 and 4 | 800g-1Kg | Apply to weeds after emergence from Autumn to early Spring. Use the higher rates during cooler months of the year or if weed pressure is high. Complete control may take 4 to 6 weeks depending on weed growth stage at application and also soil and air temperature. Weed death will generally take longer when an application is made during Winter (May to August). Add a non-ionic surfactant to the spray solution at a ratio of 0.25 to 0.5% v/v. | ||||
Stature Herbicide. | MCPA + Dicamba + Diflufenican | 4 + 4 + 12 | 2 L | Apply in 200-500 L water to actively growing weeds. Complete control may take 4 to 6 weeks. A repeat application maybe needed in 4 to 6 weeks if lower rates are used in high weed pressure situations or during extended germination periods. Use a surfactant for difficult to wet weeds. | ||||
Quali-Pro Negate. | Rimsulfuron + Metsulfuron-methyl | 2 | 110g | Apply to actively growing weeds and not to weeds under stress. | ||||
ProForce Weed Blast MA. | Bromoxynil + MCPA | 6 + 4 | 3-6 L | Apply evenly over the area. DO NOT mow turf for 2 days after treatment. Use a minimum of 500 L/Ha of water | ||||
Warhead Trio. | MCPA + Clopyralid + Diflufenican | 4 + 12 | 5 L | Apply to actively growing weeds. Transient discolouration may occur on kikuyu and carpet grass and Queensland blue couch. Avoid exceeding application rates through overlapping sprayed areas. Use a surfactant for difficult to wet weeds. | ||||
ProForce Contra M. | Dicamba + MCPA | 4 | 6.5 L | Apply to actively growing weeds and moist soil in 250-400L water. DO NOT use on Lippia or Strawberry Clover or Buffalo grass. DO NOT mow turf for 2 days before or after application or fertilize within two weeks of spraying. | ||||
Non Selectives for Lambs Tongue.
You cannot use any of these on lawns or turf areas to selectively remove Lams Tongue.
- Glufosinate-ammonium provides control for 4 to 6 weeks, but it will regrow and recover.
- Glyphosate. You can use Glyphosate but if water quality is an issue then use ProForce Manta Ray.
These are non-selective but also have a long term residual and stop any re-growth of Ribwort Plantain.
- Renegade. Renegade stops Buckhorn Plantain germinating for up to 12 months. This reduces the need for multiple herbicide applications.
- Numchuk Quad. This gives post and pre emergent Lambs Tongue control for up to 12 months.
- Cortex Duo. Cortex Duo gives a rapid knockdown, and residual control for up to 3 months. It is also safe to use around trees.
In Conclusion
The key to managing Lambs Tongue is to maintain a healthy turf surface before spraying pre or post emergent herbicides.
