sticker burrs

[smwhorn]

We have a ranch house in Central Texas and are finally able to start fixing it up. There is a chain link fence around the ranch house yard. The yard is completely full of sticker burrs. We really can't even walk around the yard with flip flops. NO WAY can we do it in bare feet.

Any suggestions?

 

[fluff]

I have heard that fertilizer works...dont know why, but thats what I have heard....

 

[Not that Bob]

Plant a more desirable grass and mow it short, and weekly for at least two years. You have to mow often enough that the burrs/seeds are not allowed to come to maturity. Some will live in the soil after the first year, so you have to keep it up at least two years, and hope there are no "sleepers" left over. Essentially, don't let it ever go to seed.

 

[jmatt]

If you can be out there after a rain, or just water real well, stucker plants come out fairly easily.

They're usually runners off of a main root.

Wear gloves and start in one corner of the yard, find the main root and pull the plant out carefully right at the root. IThey should come right up and will ofetn bring up surprisingly large clumps of plant.

 

[Brak]

I've followed the advice from Plant Answers and have had relatively good luck. As with all weeds, you need a healthy lawn to crowd them out. They primarily come out in late spring and late summer so early spring and mid summer are good times for putting in pre-emergent herbacides. I've also used MSMA while they are growing and it works very well.

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[gardere_owns_OU]

stepped on plenty of stickers out at my old house on lake travis. why did God let them happen?

 

[madscientist]

its God's way of reminding us that he wants us to have a lush, healthy lawn.

 

[smwhorn]

thanks for the info. any other tips would be appreciated as well.