What gets rid of stickers in your yard?

Question

I have never had stickers before, but this year, they are everywhere. What caused them to all of the sudden appear and how do you get rid of them?

Forgive me for not being more specific. I am from Louisiana and all I know is we call them "stickers". When you step on them a cluster of brown crab looking stickers will stick into your feet and boy do they hurt. I am wondering if it is what you all call "grassspurs"?

Answer 1

They are called "Goat Heads" or "Puncture Vine" and they've become quite a problem across the United States over the past 10-12 years. Once the seedlings emerge, it's best to pull them before they form the heads and then place them in the trash. The seeds from "Goat heads" or "Puncture vines" are viable up to 20 years in the soil.

There are several ways to prevent them from becoming a problem in your yard;

1) Pre-emergent herbicides containing oryzalin or trifluralin applied in spring (April 1) will kill seedlings as they germinate during summer. You can probably find these chemicals at one of your local hardware stores.

2) In some areas, people are using propane torch burners to burn/destroy the seedlings AND the seedheads. However, this may not be the safest way to control them unless you have permission from your local fire department in advance.

3) There are currently some seed-feeding weevils (Microlarinus lareynii) and crown-feeding weevils (Microlarinus lypriformis) they can be purchased over the internet. Although they're somewhat expensive (~$75/container of 250 weevils which treats one acre) they are very effective in controlling this horrible weed.

Hope this information was of some help. GOOD LUCK!

-Certified Professional Crop Consultant with over 30 years of experience and a degree in Plant Science

Answer 2

Sand spurs? It is the female plant that is the culpret. You need to pull them out. Locate the center of the plant by pulling all the leaves up to the center, so you can get the whole plant, grasp all and pull - they come out easily. Females leaves and stems are a deep purple near the root, once you spot them they are easy to find. Quickest way to identify is let them start putting out their spikes of stickers. Don't know of any weed and feed that will get rid of them.

I'll help you pull yours, if you come help pull the ones in my yard!!

They are also called "sticker burrs" "sand spurrs" and "goat's head"

Answer 3

It is difficult to get rid of them, because the head, or sticker part is divided into sections and they will germinate successive years. It takes a long time to eliminate them. Pulling is best, because any effective spray will kill the grass.

Answer 4

What kind of stickers? Grassburs? Cockleburs? Goatheads?

Answer 5

Reynwater is right, and I can't believe the others don't know what they are! I HATE those things, and man, once you step on one, you will NEVER want to step on it again! But please, wear some good gloves when you pull them, and don't let him hit your arms or you will be itching for a while, but I'm thinking you already know that!

Answer 6

Are you in the United States?... I can't figure out what is stickers, sorry..☺

Answer 7

i thought they were yellow grass like flowers that turn brown and stick in your feet most common in the south

Answer 8

Pardon me, what in the name of ... , is a Sticker! Please define the specific plant or character of same for any reasonable answer.