Can you get rid of portulaca?

Answer 1

Portulaca is not difficult to kill with many common herbicides. Check the inside label. Purslane is closely related and usually listed. I think the main problem is that both seed so much. Even if you kill the plant, there are plenty of seed in the soil to germinate & ruin your landscape. Try a pre-emergent herbicide after killing the weeds. It can keep seeds from germinating.

Portulaca does root very shallow. Pulling young plants is your best way to go. Using heavy mulch or paper under mulch can help.

Answer 2

Herbicides, mulches, predators, solarization, turfgrass and uprooting describe ways to kill portulaca in gardens. The broad-leafed weed in question (Portulaca oleracea) can be controlled by: introduction of predatory leafminer weevils (Hypurus bertrandiperris) and purslane sawflies (Schizocerella pilicornis);

• pre-emergent herbicides before seeds germinate;
  
• post-emergent herbicides after roots and shoots flourish;
  
• selective removal (for bagging and burning or for incorporating into salads and soups).
  

Adherence to regular mowing and tending schedules for turfgrass, the solarization soil-sheets during the hot months of July and August and the weight of inorganic and organic mulches discourage and stop purslane from taking over gardens.