It is a typical weed of footpaths or dirt roadways. It can serve as a host for diseases, such as powdery mildew, and is an alternate host for the parasitic weed dodder. It often germinates in soil cracks in compacted soil, and seedlings appear in lines where the cracks are. Though it germinates in early spring, it grows slowly and upright before becoming prostrate. If mowed, it remains prostrate and spreads, forming a mat that is 3 to 4 feet in diameter.
Seed develop on the plant low to the ground and they readily survive mowing.
Flowering may occur from March through October. Arrange landscapes so that there is less likelihood that pathways or other areas will become compacted. Spread out traffic over a broader area. Do not trample areas soon after irrigation or rainfall. Arrange soccer fields and athletic areas so that trafficked areas such as goals, midfields, and sidelines can be rotated.