What Indian Mock Strawberry looks like
A low creeping mat that spreads by runners, with three-part leaves whose edges have rounded, scalloped teeth, small bright YELLOW five-petal flowers, and upright red berries that look like tiny strawberries — true wild strawberry has white flowers, sharper-pointed leaf teeth, and berries that hang down.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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Best approach: Spray or dig
Digging works if you pull the whole runner network — the better choice for small patches, and for St. Augustine or centipede lawns where spraying carries risk. For a lawn-wide invasion, spray on the schedule for your grass type.
Best products for Indian Mock Strawberry
Formulated to kill indian mock strawberry without wiping out your grass — see the timing and chemistry below.
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BioAdvanced All-In-One Weed & Feed (22-0-4)
✓ Kills indian mock strawberryBeginner friendly
Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action1
✓ Kills indian mock strawberryBeginner friendlyPrevents crabgrass for up to 4 months, kills dandelion, clover and other listed broadleaf weeds, and feeds. Apply to wet grass, no more than twice a year. Not for St. Augustine. Its label allows centipede, but centipede does better with a stand-alone weed killer and a lighter feeding.
Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed5
✓ Kills indian mock strawberryBeginner friendlyWeed killer plus 26-0-2 lawn food for dandelion, clover and other listed broadleaf weeds. Apply to wet grass. On bahia, wait until mid-April and the third mowing, and make fall applications before Nov 1. Not for St. Augustine. Its label allows centipede, but centipede does better with a stand-alone weed killer and a lighter feeding.
How much do you need?
Herbicide is dosed by lawn size. Pick your yard size for a quick estimate:
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When to treat Indian Mock Strawberry
Spray in spring or fall when temperatures are 60–80°F and the weed is actively growing. Avoid summer heat — stressed grass takes collateral damage.
Chemical treatment
Use a three-way broadleaf weed killer (2,4-D + MCPP + dicamba) while it is actively growing and the lawn is not drought-stressed — early fall is the best window for this creeping perennial, and expect a repeat in 2-3 weeks since rooted runners regrow. Safe at label rate on tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, bermuda and zoysia; use the lowest rate on fine fescue. On St. Augustine and centipede, use only a product labeled for southern lawns at the reduced rate, never above 85°F — and do NOT use triclopyr or fluroxypyr on St. Augustine, centipede or bahia. Triclopyr and fluroxypyr are stronger options for cool-season lawns; fluroxypyr is also fine on bermuda and zoysia, but keep triclopyr to spot treatments there. Don't mow for 2 days either side of spraying, and wait 3-4 weeks before reseeding.
Non-chemical management
Pull it after rain or watering, tracing each runner and lifting the rooted nodes — it lifts easily out of moist soil. Because it favors damp shade and tolerates close mowing, improving drainage, aerating and watering less often makes the lawn far less inviting for it.
How to stop Indian Mock Strawberry coming back
Keep the lawn thick and mown at the taller end of its range, and pull stray runners out of bed edges before they root and creep into the turf.
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Measure my lawn — it's free →FAQ
What does Indian Mock Strawberry look like?
A low creeping mat that spreads by runners, with three-part leaves whose edges have rounded, scalloped teeth, small bright YELLOW five-petal flowers, and upright red berries that look like tiny strawberries — true wild strawberry has white flowers, sharper-pointed leaf teeth, and berries that hang down.
What's the best way to kill Indian Mock Strawberry?
Spray or dig. Digging works if you pull the whole runner network — the better choice for small patches, and for St. Augustine or centipede lawns where spraying carries risk. For a lawn-wide invasion, spray on the schedule for your grass type.
Is Indian Mock Strawberry hard to get rid of?
Indian Mock Strawberry is rated moderate to control. Consistent treatment over a season usually does the job.
How do I stop Indian Mock Strawberry coming back?
Keep the lawn thick and mown at the taller end of its range, and pull stray runners out of bed edges before they root and creep into the turf.
Other broadleaf weeds
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