What kind of weed are stickers

They are doubly bad for dogs, which have twice as many feet and are unable to pick them out of tender paws. The most frustrating thing is, by the time the dried seeds start giving us grief, the overwinter annuals are already beginning to die.

So, what to do? According to turfgrass weed scientists at MSU, the most effective, albeit inconvenient, method of controlling stickers is to apply a granular pre-emergence herbicide in early fall, before October before the seeds sprout.

Or you can use a liquid herbicide to spray the plants in January or February, when they are small and easier to kill, before they set seed. Whatever will control dandelions, clover, wild onion and garlic, and other late winter and spring lawn weeds will kill sticker plants. But - and this is crucial - it needs to be done in mid-winter when the plants are small and tender, before they flower and the lawn starts greening up.

Main thing to remember is that not all weed killers are effective or safe for your lawn. Put plainly, what is safe to use on different weeds in Bermudagrass may kill St. Normally, germination and growth take place in areas where your permanent warm season grass has declined. To prevent growth of weeds in the lawn, homeowners may first begin by implementing sound cultural practices such as soil sampling and fertilizing accordingly, proper mowing heights, maintaining sharp blades on the lawn mower and proper irrigation practices.

The best defense against weeds in a home lawn is to have a dense, healthy turf canopy. Be certain to remove no more than one third of the height of the turf in a single mowing. Removing excess turf tends to leave holes in the canopy that weeds will often invade. Follow a recommended fertility regimen for your specific turf species. Fertilize only when the grass is actively growing. Over fertilization also can cause detrimental effects to the turf and leave voids in which weeds can establish.

If spurweed has made a significant establishment in your lawn, then in addition to the cultural practices previously listed, herbicides are used as supplemental aids in controlling weeds. This should be the first line of defense for controlling most weeds in St. Augustine grass and centipede grass mid-late winter. Remember that control is reduced as weeds mature.

Augustine grass. It is the seed pods that cause problems as they produce sharp spines as they mature. The spines on the pods can painfully puncture feet when walked on barefooted. Once the spiny seed pods have formed, there is nothing you can do to alleviate the problem.

So, it's really too late to deal with this weed this year. Here's how to make sure you don't have a problem next spring. A two-prong approach will work best when controlling burweed or sticker weed.

The first effort is preemptive and involves the use of a preemergence herbicide or weed preventer. A preemergence herbicide is applied before the seeds start germinating in the fall, and it kills the seeds as they germinate. Early application before seeds germinate is critical. Apply the preemergence herbicide in early October following label directions. Ask the staff to help you select the proper product.

That's the first line of attack.