G’day, Nikolai here from The Lawn Firm. If you’ve noticed flat rosettes with bright yellow daisy-like flowers spreading across your lawn, you’re looking at capeweed. It’s one of the toughest broadleaf weeds I manage across Canberra. Here’s my simple guide to spotting capeweed early, preventing outbreaks, and restoring lawns when it takes hold.

What capeweed looks like

Leaves: Flat rosettes with deep lobes, grey-green on top, white and woolly underneath.
Flowers: Bright yellow, daisy-like heads that bloom in spring.
Habit: Spreads low and wide, smothering turf as it grows.
Roots: A deep taproot makes it hard to pull out completely.

Why capeweed thrives in Canberra

Thin turf: Bare spots give capeweed a perfect entry point.
Compacted clay soils: Weak roots in turf mean capeweed wins the space.
Dry patches: Capeweed handles stress better than grass.
Seed bank: Each flower head drops hundreds of seeds into the soil for next year.

When capeweed is most active

Autumn: Seeds germinate after rain when soils cool.
Winter: Plants sit low and spread wide.
Spring: Flowering peaks and seed production explodes.

This is why I act before flowering. Once it seeds, the cycle repeats for years.

Signs I look for on site

Distinct rosettes flattening the turf canopy.
Woolly underside on leaves (easy to spot when you flip them).
Flowering patches that dominate quickly in spring.
Large bare scars once capeweed dies off, leaving soil exposed.

Prevention tips that work

Thicken turf in autumn: Overseed and top dress to close gaps before capeweed germinates.
Aerate clay soils: Strong roots outcompete weeds.
Feed seasonally: Fertilised lawns recover faster and block invaders.
Raise mowing height: Shade the soil surface to limit germination.
Clean tools: Don’t spread seeds via mower decks or boots.

Control methods I use

Hand weeding (small patches): Best after rain when the soil is soft. Remove as much taproot as possible.
Targeted treatment (wider infestations): A selective approach suited to broadleaf weeds, applied when capeweed is actively growing. Correct timing is critical.
Mechanical removal: For severe patches, I strip, top dress, and overseed to rebuild turf cover.

Aftercare that makes the difference

Rake out dead material so grass can fill the space.
Top dress lightly (5–8 mm) to level scars.
Overseed thin areas with the right turf species for Canberra.
Light fertilise to support new growth.
Deep watering to strengthen roots and close the canopy.

Mistakes I see often

Letting capeweed flower. One plant can seed hundreds of new weeds.
Scalping to “mow it out.” This weakens turf and spreads more seed.
Skipping aeration. Without deep roots, turf won’t win the space back.
One-off treatments. Capeweed control is seasonal and ongoing.

DIY or call The Lawn Firm?

You can hand-weed small infestations. For larger outbreaks, it’s about timing, technique, and recovery. I coordinate aeration, overseeding, fertilising, and targeted weed control so capeweed doesn’t return. That means fewer weeds and a lawn that improves year after year.