Help!!! We are moving to San Antonio and the patch of land where we are going has millions of those sticker burrs. We are in our 70s and just cannot crawl around pulling them. PLEASE someone tell us the best way short of burning the area to at least start controlling the blasted things.

Does applications of Corn Gluten help. LOordy show us the way.

That's a tough one. I have a few of those in my front lawn in Fort Worth and I've been trying to reduce the number by physically removing the seed heads and putting them in the trash when I see them. Is there any way to mow and catch (bag) and toss the grass to thin the seed production, to start with?

We have considered the BUT the San Antonio heat and the fact that this plot has been open with no care at all makes it really tough. The plot is nearly solid stickers???

I suspect that if/when Howard or one of his folks who manage more land answer this, there will be some discussion about that particular plant and the type of soil it needs. My burrs grow commingled in an otherwise healthy mix of turf and next to nice iris beds with good soil, so I don't know that it would be a matter of simply improving the soil to drive out this plant (like with some other plants found primarily in poor soil). I think a mix of picking up the seed heads (there are probably many possibilities--can you hire a neighborhood kid to mow, etc.?) and application of vinegar or other organic products that will discourage the burr growth or to kill the grass before it seeds.

Good luck. I think you'll find that there isn't a one-step kills all of it and leaves the rest alone answer. The chemical companies offer that, but the environmental cost is way too high. That's why we're doing it the organic way, and sometimes working a little harder to get it right.

Thank you so much for all the good word. A neighbor said perhaps a good application of corn gluten and molasses to improve the soil could encourage grass growth which could strangle the burrs plants?????

That can't hurt, and it will make all of the rest of the plants happier. The main question is, will improved soil help crowd out that particular weed or make it healthier?

Define "patch"

Patch: A 1/5 acre plot of subdivision or
PATCH: 40 acres with Mule

If you want a short term cosmetic solution, mow to the ground and plant some rye for the winter. It ain't exactly perfect but it is effective.

Super idea/////Thanks for your input and we will follow your advice..

Something that worked for us in the past was to take an old nylon blanket and drag it across the area, then throw the old, burr laden blanket away. We did this a few times over a year and the next year we could tell a huge difference.

Clever! We usually pick them up more slowly--in our shoelaces and socks.

Tococano has exactly the right idea. Anything that a burr will stick to (any fabric) can be used like Velcro to remove them from the surface. Then you have to deal with the plants. Those burrs are very common down here on soil that is of poor quality. The fastest way to get rid of them is a little compost or mulch followed by organic fertilizer and plenty of water ONCE A MONTH. Don't water too frequently or the remaining burr seeds will sprout. In the heat of summer you can water once a week without worry, but no more than that. The soil has to dry out between watering or the seeds will sprout. Once the soil has a healthy population of soil microbes, the burr plants will die. Growing grass is the ultimate solution. If you treat the soil like you were growing grass, the burrs will die. It's one of those amazing things. Essentially the burrs are Nature's way of telling you that you have poor soil.