It is easily identified by its small feathery leaves resembling parsley, upward-facing seed pods located between branch junctions, and sharp-needled seeds. 

Burweed Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Spermatophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Asteraceae
• Genus: Soliva
• Species: Soliva sessilis
• Common Names: Common Soliva, Field Soliva, Lawn Burweed, Field Burweed, Carpet Burweed, Bindi Weed, Spurweed, Jo-Jo Weed, and Onehunga Weed.

Nativity and Distribution

Field Burweed is native to South America, from Brazil to Chile. Today, the weed has spread to several places around the world, including:

• United States ( Virginia, North Carolina, California, Florida, Oregon, and Hawaii)
• Canada
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Australia
• Southern France

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Lower rosette leaves and alternately-arranged leaves on stems
• Fruits: Two-lobed, flattened achene about 6mm long
• Stems: Sparsely to very hairy stems with purple spots
• Flowers:  Small, inconspicuous, yellow-green disk flowers
• Roots: Fibrous root system 

Burweed is a herbaceous broadleaf annual that can spread or grow erect up to 2 inches tall. It is a common lawn weed known for its sharp-pointed seeds. 

It is easily identified by its small feathery leaves resembling parsley, upward-facing seed pods located between branch junctions, and sharp-needled seeds. 

S. sessilis undergoes two to three leaf growth stages from the seedling to maturity. In the seedling stage, the leaves are oblong-lanceolate. 

A basal rosette of petioled dissected leaves then forms, and if the conditions are less favorable, one flower head is formed before cessation. If favorable conditions support growth, secondary stems form with alternate leaves and additional flower heads.

Bindi Weed produces small and inconspicuous, yellow-green flowers about 6mm wide, located on the stem branches or leaf axils.

The seeds are oval, flattened achenes with wings and occasional stiff hairs, about 3-5 mm long.

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Annual 
• Seeds: A single plant can produce 100 or more seeds at a time
• Climate: Warm temperate and subtropical climates
• Dispersal: Animals and humans

Soliva sessilis behaves as an annual, thriving in warm, temperate to subtropical climates with mild winters. It reproduces by seed, with a single plant producing 100 seeds or more. 

The achenes contain spines that easily attach to the fur of animals and human clothing and shoes. Other items that cause accidental movement of the seeds include backpacks, tent floors, and duffel bags.

The weed typically establishes during fall and winter, especially on stressed or bare cool-season turfgrasses. It can also be found in coastal bluff habitats. 

While it mainly propagates by seed, Burweed’s creeping stems can produce shoots that, if left unchecked, will form low, dense patches on lawns.

Similar Plants

• Daucus carota
• Aphanes arvensis
• Matricaria discoidea
• Cotula australis

Uses

Burweed is one of the rare weeds that, despite its far-spreading nature, has no positive uses. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

S. sessilis generally occurs in stressed or worn turf and can lead to increased erosion by creating larger bare areas. Additionally, it can lead to rainfall runoff, negatively impacting groundwater supply.

A Burweed infestation adds to the economic cost of turf weed control, including removal and restoration of the affected areas. 

An infestation on a golf course impacts the roll of the ball and reduces the aesthetics by leaving brown patches when temperatures are unfavorable. Similarly, it can reduce the value of recreation parks, leading to dwindling revenues. 

While it is classified as a turf weed, it has been observed to invade coastal bluff ecosystems in British Columbia, Canada, where it is displacing an endemic species, Limnanthes macounii. This raises concerns for its potential invasiveness in other habitats. 

Burweed has a bad reputation for making walking barefoot for humans and pets on turf unbearable. The spine tips often break off on the skin, causing injuries and infections. The painful spines have been associated with causing lameness in dogs.

Control 

• Cultural control: Maintaining a healthy turf
• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and flaming
• Chemical control: Herbicides like isoxaben, dicamba, bentazon, and bromoxynil

Maintaining a healthy turf is the best defense against a Burweed infestation. It is a poor competitor of long, well-fertilized turf. 

For already existing infestations, pull young plants from the roots before seeding. Other alternative strategies include pouring hot water and propane torch flaming, especially for areas where herbicides cannot be applied. 

 The best herbicides to control S. sessilis include isoxaben, dicamba, bentazon, bromofenoxim, and bromoxynil, depending on the timing and turfgrass type.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Soliva sessilis (Burweed) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Most people encountering thorny weeds will do everything possible to eradicate them, including herbicides.

However, some have several benefits, from being edible to offering medicinal properties.

Below, we have compiled a list of the top 10 common thorny weeds that you are likely to find in your garden. If you are to touch them, make sure to wear protective gloves.

1. Spiny sow thistle

Spiny snow thistle is an annual or biennial weed plant that grows tall, reaching up to 2 meters. It is common in gardens, pastures, roadsides, fields, and woody areas.

It is easy to identify as it is one of the most common weeds with thorns on leaves – it has thorns on the edges and the underside of the leaves.

Spiny sow thistles are invasive as they produce several seeds that scatter easily.

However, it has several benefits.

The young leaves of the wild plant are edible – whether cooked or eaten raw.

The plant also has medicinal properties, cultivated for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

2. Catbrier

Catbrier (Smilax bona-nox) is a perennial thorny vine that is popularly known as greenbrier. It has spiny, woody stems, which can be low or high climbing (up to 25 feet), forming thick impenetrable thickets.

Catbrier is highly invasive as it spreads quickly through seeds from its fruits.

However, it also has hardy, deep rhizomes, which can survive even fires, allowing the plant to grow back.

The plant is also beneficial and offers medicinal properties, including treating joint pain, gout, and skin disease.

Its leaves and fruits also serve as food and shelter for wildlife.

3. Burweed

Burweed is also known as spurweed, stickerweed, or lawn burrweed. It is one of the most common weeds with thorns found in grass.

Burrweed is every lawn owner’s nightmare, as it rapidly germinates after winter and can outcompete the grass.

It is also conspicuous, and can easily prick your feet when you are walking barefoot on the lawn.

However, despite its reputation, it does have some benefits. For many years, the plant was cultivated for its medicinal properties, particularly its ability to treat fever.

Therefore, one or two of these weeds growing on your grass might not be bad. But if you feel it is invading your space, use these removal techniques.

4. California burclover

California burclover (Medicago polymorpha), also known as toothed burclover, is an annual broadleaf weed that grows in disturbed pastures, fields, waste areas, and roadsides, just to name a few.

It has oblong-shaped leaves, erect green stems, bright yellow flowers, and prickly seeds (burs).

California burclover can quickly spread through its seeds or deep roots and overtake other plants.

However, it is cultivated in a controlled manner for several benefits. First, the leaves are edible and consumed as vegetables in many regions.

It is also a good source of fodder for livestock.

5. Stickseed

Stickseed, also known as Virginia stickseed, is a biennial plant that grows in light shade and woodland areas.

You will usually find it growing on the roadsides and garden areas and can invade lawns. Virginia stickseed is one of the tall weeds with thorns, reaching up to four feet high.

It has oval-shaped, hairy leaves and tiny white flowers. It also produces prickly nutlets, which release sticky seeds when they dry up.

While stickseed has gained a reputation for being an invasive weed, it was grown as a beneficial plant for several years.

It was used in Cherokee herbal medicine to treat skin cancers and kidney conditions and improve cognitive function.

Some cultures even used it for love charms.

6. Carolina horsenettle

Carolina horsenettle is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to areas of North America.

It goes by several local names, including sand brier, bull nettle, wild tomato, radical weed, and Sodom apple.

It has large, oblong leaves with sharp prickles on the underside. The stem of the plant is also covered with thorns.

California nettle is an invasive plant that spreads easily through a rhizome system. It also attracts several insects, spreading pests and diseases to crops.

However, it has several benefits. It is cultivated for its medicinal properties, used to treat asthma and bronchitis, and is also a diuretic.

Some communities also use it as an aphrodisiac.

On top of that, it provides nectar to bees (particularly bumblebees) and food (berries) for wildlife.

7. Jimson weed

Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), also known as thorn apple, devil’s snare, or devil’s trumpet, is another thorny weed plant you are likely to find.

It is a flowering plant that is part of the nightshade family. It has an upright growing branching plant with large, undulated leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers.

However, it is more commonly known for its thorny egg-shaped seed capsules (thorn apple) surrounded by prickles.

Jimson weed is a highly invasive plant that spreads quickly through seeds when the capsule dries and bursts.

It is also hard to eradicate due to its thick roots and is considered toxic to human beings and animals.

However, Jimson weed is also famous for its several medicinal properties.

Further, humans used the weed for several years to treat respiratory ailments such as asthma, flu, cough, and swine.

In addition, in early and traditional medicine, humans used the weed to treat epilepsy and explosive conditions.

Jimson weed also contains psychoactive properties, which produce a hallucinogenic effect.

It is used among indigenous Americans and other cultures worldwide for spiritualism and occult practices.

8. Prickly sida

Prickly sida (Sida rhombifolia), also known as arrowleaf sida, is a perennial plant native to the tropic and subtropics region.

It has woody, branching stems that grow up to heights of 120 cm. Its leaves are diamond-shaped and feature small spines at the base of each leaf.

Many consider prickly sida invasive due to its tendency to infest crop fields where cotton, peanuts, and soybeans are grown.

However, it is not entirely without use. The plants are used for their anti-inflammatory properties to relieve swelling.

The plant’s fruits also reduce headaches, while the roots treat rheumatism.

9. Wild brambles

Wild brambles are a variety of wildly growing blackberries and raspberries plants. They are thorny plants, which you can quickly identify with their dark purple and bright red berries.

Brambles are invasive as they can quickly infest gardens and take over from other plants.

However, they are one of the most beneficial wild plants. Their berries are edible and a rich source of antioxidants. Birds and other animals also eat them.

10. Bull thistle

Bull thistles are biennial herbaceous weeds with thorns and purple flowers. They are tall growing, reaching up to seven feet tall.

Its leaves are broad, coarse and deeply lobbed and come with sharp spines extending from the tip of the leaves to the stems.

Bull thistles are highly aggressive, spreading through seeds dispersed by winds.

They can survive in the soil for several years before infesting and thriving in poorly maintained grounds.

However, the bull thistle plant also offers several benefits. The plant was used in traditional medicine to make medicinal tea, which helps treat muscle stiffness and rheumatism.

The roots also aid in digestion and treat stomach cramps.

Wrapping up

The above are some common thorny plants you can come across in your garden, lawn, crop field, roadsides, woods, and other areas.

While the weeds are invasive and toxic, they offer several benefits.

So, before you eradicate them, you might want to consider whether they can benefit you and are worth keeping.

More Guides

• List of weeds that look like small trees
• List of tall weeds with thick stalks

Carla Etheridge

Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.

The post 10 most common weeds with thorns appeared first on InsightWeeds.

A disadvantage when they do all these is that they will disperse their seeds wherever you throw them once you remove them from your clothes.

So you have to figure out how to get rid of weeds with burrs before they can outgrow your lawn.

Burr weeds spread and reproduce by seeds. Thus, the best way of controlling the weed is to remove it before it can set its seeds or flowers. One way of getting rid of the plant is to mow your lawn regularly.

However, mowing is not an effective option for eliminating the plant permanently. Although you can use herbicides, such as Drexel MSMA 6 Plus Herbicide, burr weeds are tolerant to some chemicals.

The alternative is to use non-selective herbicides or boiling water. So, how do you get rid of burrweed stickers?

How to get rid of burr weeds from your lawn

You can kill these small spiky balls in the grass using different methods. These are the most effective:

1. Use herbicides to eliminate burr weeds

Burr weeds are stubborn because they spread and reproduce by seeds. Therefore, an effective way of eliminating them is to use herbicides to prevent their seeds from reproducing.

However, you must use the herbicides in two phases. First, apply a pre-emergent herbicide and then a post-emergent herbicide.

A pre-emergent herbicide works before the burrweed grows to prevent it from showing up in your lawn or garden. The chemical will not interfere with germination but will stop new root cells.

A post-emergent herbicide attacks already grown weeds. Therefore, you will have to spray them once you see the burrweed showing its head on your lawn.

The best example of a post-emergent herbicide to use is the RoundUp Weed & Grass Killer III with Comfort Wand. Ensure to follow the manufacturer’s directions on using and applying a pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicide.

2. Pull the burr weed by hand

You can get rid of burrweed stickers naturally by pulling them by hand. Hand-pulling the weed is effective because of the delicate nature of the plant’s root system.

Generally, the method works well when the unwanted plant is still young and not fully established.

Hand-pulling will remove the whole root, preventing the burr weeds from growing again. You can start by digging around the base of the weed to expose and remove all the connecting roots.

Alternatively, you can use a weeder tool, claw, sharp trowel, or screwdriver to dig up the soil and loosen the roots. Ensure to wear protective gloves to protect yourself from blisters and spikes.

After hand-pulling the weeds, applying a pre-emergent herbicide is an excellent idea to stop them from growing further.

3. Use mulch to control burr weeds

Mulching is an excellent solution for preventing burr weeds from growing on your lawn. This method also helps maintain moisture in the soil.

When you apply a thick layer of mulch on your lawn, it will reduce the amount of sunlight that gets to the soil. As a result, it will be harder for the burrweed seeds to germinate. Furthermore, a thick mulch will smother any weeds that have not sprouted before becoming established.

The best organic mulches to use are compost or wood chips. When mulching, ensure to apply the mulch in already weeded areas.

It will be challenging to smother established burr weeds with mulch. Also, spread the mulch in the early season before local weeds germinate.

4. Consider soil cultivation

Soil cultivation helps cut down weedlings to prevent them from going to seed.

The method entails chopping down the young burr weeds and tilling them gently under the soil where you can leave them to decompose. You can use a rotary cultivator or hoe for this method.

Conclusion

You can permanently kill burweed from your lawn using both natural and chemical options. For example, you can spray a post-emergent or pre-emergent herbicide to eliminate the plant.

Alternatively, you can hand-pull the weed to remove its roots or cultivate the soil to prevent it from going to seed. Another option is to use a mulch to prevent the plant from getting sunlight, halt its seeds from germinating, and smother any established plants.

Related Posts

• How to sharpen lawn edger blades
• How to get rid of dollar weed
• What’s the difference between liquid and core aeration?
• What to do with dead weeds after spraying

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post How to get rid of burr weeds appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Acting fast to eliminate pricker weeds is necessary because these plants are invasive and can extend to places where they are hard to remove.

Some homeowners try to control prickly grass by mowing it. While this may offer a better solution to eliminating them, you may unknowingly be spreading their seeds all over your lawn. Besides, cutting down the plants only gives a temporary fix.

4 ways to get rid of sticker weeds permanently

You need a permanent solution to ensure the sticker grass does not return again. The following are some methods you should try.

1. Use a Pre-Emergent Herbicide

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide can help to prevent sticker grass from growing. The chemicals work by stopping the formation of new root cells in infant weed plants. 

An example of a product you can use is the Scotts Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer. Here is how to apply a pre-emergent herbicide in your garden to eliminate burweed.

• • Pour the entire bag of the pre-emergent herbicide into a bucket and weigh it. The application rate should be 4lb per 1,000 square feet of lawn.
  • Pour the granules into a spreader.

• Use the default manufacturer presets on your spreader to start applying the granules.
• Start by doing a trim pass around your yard.
• Finish the remaining areas in a grid pattern to ensure you get an even application of the herbicide.

The pre-emergent herbicide will prevent the seeds from the sticker weeds from germinating. But the granules only last for about three months.

Therefore, you will have to reapply for better results. Remember to refer to the product label for specific application directions.

2. Use a post-emergent herbicide

A post-emergent herbicide will kill the prickly weeds and ensure they do not grow back. Products such as Quali-Pro MSM Turf Herbicide will attack the plants after they have already matured.

The chemical formulation will prevent sticker grass from spreading new seeds and sprouting, especially in spring. Here is how to apply them:

• Put one ounce of post-emergent herbicide into a sprayer.
• Add one gallon of water.
• Mix the two contents well.
• Spray the solution on the weeds directly.

Note that some post-emergent herbicides, such as Quali-pro MSM Turf Herbicide, will only work for specific weeds listed on the label. That means the chemicals are simply sticker killers and will not harm your grass.

However, if it is a general herbicide, it will kill every plant that comes into contact with it.

3. Water your lawn regularly

Some sticker weeds do not spread on watered soil. If your lawn is thick and healthy, the plants will not get enough room to grow. The thickness of your yard will smother the seeds of the weeds.

It will also deny these unwanted plants the critical sunlight warmth that prevents their seeds from germinating.

Irrigate your yard early in the morning because this is the time when your grass is receptive to water and will utilize the moisture provided.

4. Uproot the sticker weeds by hand

Uprooting the sticker weeds is a practical method because it removes the roots of the plants. That prevents it from growing back again. However, the option is time-consuming and only applicable to smaller areas.

When pulling by hand, ensure to remove the entire taproot. If you cannot get rid of weeds with stickers by hand, use gardening tools such as a hoe.

Although mowing can help, you need to ensure that the seeds of the plants do not drop everywhere. The solution is to mow with a bag so that the sticker weeds can collect in the bag and stop spreading everywhere.

Also, keeping the yard short and well-trimmed destroys the plants and prevents its seeds from maturing and germinating.

Getting rid of burweed shouldn’t be difficult

So, what kills stickers in the grass? As a homeowner, use pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to eliminate sticker weeds.

Also, consider keeping your yard thick and short because it will smother the seeds of the burweed. Alternatively, uproot the plants from the taproot to prevent them from growing back again.

More guides

• When should you apply pre-emergent in North Carolina
• Crabgrass removal tools that are very effective

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post How to get rid of sticker weeds from your yard appeared first on InsightWeeds.