How doI get rid of sand burrs in yard? Heavy concentration in some areas, light in others. [/list]

If you have areas of pure sand burrs, use a torch to burn them up. You need to burn the seeds to ashes.

For mixed areas, you are on a journey. Water deeply, mow high (assuming you don't have bermuda), and use corn gluten meal to control the seed sprouts. Deep watering will promote the grass health and drought tolerance. Tall mowing will shade the burr seeds to slow down their sprouting. CGM will control their growth at the seed stage and will kill the sprouts. Don't the burrs sprout all year long? You might need to use the CGM every 3 months for a couple applications until you see some control. If so, you will have some serious fertilized grass out there.

I feel the real key in controlling grass burrs is soil fertility. I naturally use only organic products. Compost, my compost teas, commercial organic fertilizers and dry and liquid humates. Grass burrs are an indicater plant of less than optimum soil.

If you live in town, your neighbors might frown on the burning approach as well may your local authorities. Check with your local municipality regarding ordinances.

Restore the soil to health and you should soon be rid of this nuisance.

Good luck.

I live in the country(parker). I never use fire in yards. I've burned my pasture and around my creek before. This was just to clear everything before I started my organic program. While I didn't really like wasting all that organic matter. I figure it wouldn't hurt all that much since nature has used this method to help form the grasslands of the prairies. I seldom use this method today.

Grass burrs don't like healthy soil and humic acid. Apply humate (humic acid) in the recommended dosage on the bag... perhaps 50% more if they are a real issue.

It's essentially concentrated, volcanic-based "granular compost" and will do the trick to bring your soil up to speed. Wear old shoes/socks and gloves, because the black residue that accompanies the spreading exercise is a sight to behold...

I wear an old pair of Teva sandals. Afterwards I can just hose myself off. It has also been recommended (right here on this GREAT forum) to mix the dry humate product with lava sand with greatly aids in the application of both products through a spreader (not drop style).

Would like to know if grass burrs have hard seed. In an area that was under fair control after using corn gluten meal for about three years - this year has seen a mass infestation - thinking possibly the wet spring we experienced germinated the hard seed of previous years. Will be interested on your take on this - Thank you............Roy

I have had lots of experience with these and they can be controlled. Soil fertility is important, but physical removal seems to be key. One plant can produce over 1100 seeds in a year, so think of that each time you dig one up! I have a "Weed Popper" (available at nurseries and home stores) and have used the same one for over 15 years. (It doesn't get much use these days.) This gadget pops the whole plant out of the ground. Works especially well when the soil is soft after a rain. It is also great for dandelions and sow thistle. I would recommend adding compost to the soil this spring if you can afford it and feed the lawn several times a year until the problem is gone. The more you feed, the less healthy and easier to dig the sand burs become. If your grass is very thin and unhealthy it may be a good idea to overseed with annual or perennial rye to build the soil and compete with the grass burs in the spring. These grasses will die when hot weather hits, but you will need to mow it this winter.

Can ya'll tell me if this is the sandbur that ya'll are talking about? We grew up calling these things stickers cuz they hurt like a booger when they get stuck in the feet.



This is the link to that photo if it doesn't show up: http://www.ergonica.com/ergonica_frame.htm?Weed_Tips.htm&1

umm whoops. guess i forgot to get rid of the frame first. sorry. found another photo at - http://www.agriculture.com/default.sph/agNotebook.class?FNC=ArticleList__Aarticle_html___8132___813

i'm not finding any luck controlling these organically, everyone seems to use roundup or some msma junk.

The only thing I have found is a sharp hoe and gloves. It's hard work but it gets rid of them. I want to try corn meal gluten but I can never remember when to apply it.

MSMA contains arsenic and other nasty stuff and it hurts your trees, grass earthworms and everything else! And to top it off, it doesn't work all that well anyway - you'll still have stickers and a lawn that is in worse shape than ever. Definitely not a part of the organic program.

we have grass burs sooo bad, we are thinking about taking the tractor and blade and scraping them off and starting again. After we have bare ground should we use cgm then wait awhile to plant new grass, or plant grass seed then use the cgm after the seeds germinate :?

The grass burrs have gone to seed and died at this time. Scraping the soil as you describe will probably result in even more of the seeds germinating. Is this a lawn? Pasture? Plant grass seeds that will compete with the burrs or do the corn gluten, then plant grass seeds.