- 1). Pull purslane out of the soil by hand, or with the help of a shovel if the infestation isn't large. Moisten the soil lightly beforehand. Dry the pulled-out plants in the sun before discarding them. According to the University of California's Integrated Pest Management Program (UCIPM), this will prevent the fleshy stems from rerooting in your compost pile.
- 2). Spray a glyphosate-based herbicide over the purslane plant to kill it. This option is best for areas with large infestations, or for people who do not want to remove the weed by hand. This wide-spectrum herbicide kills any plant it comes in contact with.
- 3). Spread 3 inches of organic mulch over any purslane plant that grows in orchids, vegetables patches, ornamental plantings and gardens. As an alternate, use synthetic mulches (plastic or fabric). Mulching screens out sunlight necessary for seed development, thus impeding germination and smothering the weed so it eventually dies.
- 4). Douse the weed plant with boiling water or white vinegar as an organic method of killing it. This is important if you have children or pets. Although several applications are required before the weed dies completely, this method is safe as it does not leach out harmful chemicals into the soil.
- 5). Cover moist soil with a clear, plastic sheet for 4 to 6 weeks between July and August, when the suns light and heat is at its strongest. Lay bricks or rocks around the edges of the sheet to weigh it down. This process is called "soil solarization" and is a method of killing purslane plant and its seeds, according to UCIPM.
- 6). Spray pre-emergent herbicides to kill purslane seeds and post-emergent herbicides to kill growing weeds. Spray pre-emergent herbicide before seeds appear to kill them as soon as they develop. Apply post-emergent herbicide at the seedling stage instead of later in the season to a mature plant.
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