How to Get Rid of Plantain in Your Lawn

Plantain is one of the most common and persistent lawn weeds in the UK. Its low-growing rosettes survive mowing, tolerate compaction, and spread steadily if left unchecked. Here’s how to identify plantain, remove it effectively, and prevent it returning.

Identifying Plantain

Two species of plantain commonly invade UK lawns: greater plantain (Plantago major) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Knowing which you have helps with identification, though both respond to the same treatments.

Greater Plantain (Broadleaf Plantain)

Greater plantain has broad, oval leaves with prominent parallel veins running from base to tip. The leaves form a flat rosette that hugs the ground, allowing it to escape mower blades. Leaves are typically 5-15cm long and almost as wide, with smooth or slightly wavy edges. The leaf stalks are about the same length as the leaves themselves.

The flower spike is a short, cylindrical structure (5-15cm long) covered in tiny greenish-brown flowers on a stem that rarely exceeds 15cm. It looks somewhat like a rat’s tail.

Ribwort Plantain (Narrowleaf Plantain)

Ribwort plantain has narrower, lance-shaped leaves that grow more upright rather than flat against the ground. Leaves are typically 10-30cm long but only 1-3cm wide, with 3-5 prominent ribs running lengthwise. The leaf stalks are much longer than the leaves.

The flower spike is a compact, oval head (1-2cm long) on a tall, wiry stem that can reach 30-45cm. The head is dark brown to black, often with a ring of white or cream stamens giving it a distinctive appearance.

Quick Comparison: Greater vs Ribwort Plantain

Plantain is one of the most common garden weeds in the UK, often appearing alongside other rosette-forming weeds like docks and cat’s ear.

Why Plantain Thrives in Lawns

Plantain is a survivor. It thrives where grass struggles, particularly in compacted soil.

Its flat rosette growth means mowing has little effect. The growing point stays below cutting height, so the plant simply regrows after each pass.

The fibrous root system tolerates compaction that suffocates grass roots. This is why plantain often appears along paths, around goalposts, and in heavily trafficked areas.

Each plant produces thousands of seeds annually, which remain viable in soil for years. Once established, plantain seeds itself freely, spreading across the lawn.

Hand Removal

For small numbers of plants, hand removal works well and avoids chemicals.

Use a daisy grubber or trowel to dig out the entire root system. Plantain has a fibrous root rather than a single taproot, so you need to extract the whole crown and root mass.

Work when soil is moist for easier extraction. Dry soil makes roots break, leaving fragments that can regrow.

Fill the hole with soil and sprinkle grass seed to prevent other weeds colonising the bare patch. Our guide to fixing bare patches covers the technique in detail.

Check the area regularly and remove any regrowth or new seedlings promptly.

Selective Herbicides

For widespread plantain infestations, selective herbicides provide the most effective control. These kill broadleaf weeds while leaving grass unharmed.

Products containing 2,4-D, MCPA, mecoprop, or dicamba work well on plantain. Many lawn weedkillers combine several active ingredients for broad-spectrum control.

Apply when plantain is actively growing, typically April to September. The weed absorbs maximum chemical when growing vigorously.

Avoid treating during drought, frost, or when rain is expected within 6 hours. The herbicide needs time to be absorbed through the leaves.

Results take 2-4 weeks. Leaves will distort, yellow, and eventually die back. Don’t dig plants out during this period as it interrupts translocation to the roots.

Our Spring Lawn Treatment combines selective herbicide with balanced nutrition, killing weeds while strengthening grass to fill the gaps.

Why Repeated Treatment May Be Needed

Plantain’s seed bank means new plants often emerge after treatment. Seeds in the soil can germinate for years after you’ve killed the parent plants.

A follow-up treatment 6-8 weeks after the first application catches any new growth and surviving plants.

For heavily infested lawns, expect to treat for 2-3 seasons before achieving full control. Each treatment reduces the population and depletes the seed bank.

Addressing the Underlying Problem

Killing existing plantain is only half the battle. Unless you fix the conditions that favour it, new plants will keep appearing.

Compaction is the primary issue. Plantain thrives in compacted soil where grass struggles. Aerating your lawn relieves compaction and helps grass roots compete.

Poor drainage often accompanies compaction. Water sits on the surface rather than draining through, weakening grass and favouring weeds. See our guide to fixing waterlogged lawns for solutions.

Thin, sparse grass leaves gaps for weeds to colonise. Overseeding thickens the turf, leaving less room for weeds to establish.

Regular feeding keeps grass competitive. A well-fed lawn recovers from stress faster and crowds out weeds naturally. Follow our feeding schedule for year-round nutrition.

Preventing Plantain

A thick, healthy lawn is the best defence against plantain and other weeds.

Mow at the correct height. Cutting too short weakens grass and opens gaps. Most lawns should be maintained at 25-40mm. See our guide to mowing heights.

Reduce compaction in high-traffic areas. Create proper paths rather than allowing shortcuts across the lawn. Aerate annually in autumn.

Remove seedheads before they mature. Those tall flower spikes on plantain plants produce thousands of seeds each. Cutting them off before seeds develop prevents future infestations.

Address bare patches promptly. Every gap is an opportunity for weed seeds to germinate. Repair damage quickly to maintain dense turf coverage.

Plantain in New Lawns

New lawns from seed are particularly vulnerable to plantain invasion. The open soil provides perfect germination conditions for weed seeds.

Don’t use selective herbicides on new grass. Most products require grass to be at least 6 months old and mowed several times before treatment.

Hand removal is the only option for young lawns. Remove plantain seedlings as soon as they appear, before they establish deep roots or set seed.

Ensure good preparation before seeding. Remove existing weeds and wait for any flush of weed seedlings after cultivation. A stale seedbed technique, where you prepare soil then wait 2-3 weeks to remove germinating weeds before sowing, reduces weed competition significantly.

Plantain vs Other Weeds

Plantain often appears alongside dandelions, daisies, and clover. The same selective herbicides control all these broadleaf weeds.

If you’re treating plantain, you’ll likely eliminate other weeds too. A single application of lawn weedkiller typically controls multiple weed species.

For heavily weedy lawns where grass is struggling, full renovation may be more practical than repeated treatment. Kill everything with glyphosate, improve the soil, and start fresh with quality seed or turf. For more weed identification and control guides, visit our UK lawn care hub.