9 Methods to Eliminate Sticker Burrs

Quck answer

1. Remove sticker burrs by hand: Wear gloves and carefully pull them out, making sure to remove the entire plant, including the roots.

2. Use a weed killer: Apply a herbicide specifically designed to kill sticker burrs. Follow the instructions on the label and avoid spraying on desired plants.

3. Mow regularly: Keeping your lawn mowed at the appropriate height can prevent sticker burrs from growing and spreading.

4. Use mulch: Apply a thick layer of mulch in your garden beds to prevent sticker burrs from germinating and growing.

5. Use vinegar: Mix vinegar with water and spray it directly on the sticker burrs. This can help kill them without using harmful chemicals.

6. Burn them: If you have a small area with sticker burrs, carefully burn them with a controlled flame, such as a propane torch. Make sure to follow fire safety precautions.

7. Use a garden fork: Dig up sticker burrs with a garden fork, loosening the soil around them. This can make it easier to remove the entire plant.

8. Use a pre-emergent herbicide: Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring to prevent sticker burrs from germinating.

9. Pull out sticker burrs after rain: After a rain shower, the soil is softer, making it easier to remove sticker burrs. Take advantage of this opportunity to pull them out.


Sticker burrs are a type of annual grassy weed that can commonly be found in lawns, fields, and parks. They are also known as grass burrs and sand burrs, and they produce sharp, spiky burrs that easily attach themselves to anything they come into contact with. These burrs can cause pain when stepped on and are difficult to remove from clothing, hair, and animal fur. The most effective way to prevent the spread of this weed and its takeover of your lawn is to eliminate it.

However, it is important to be cautious when using remedies that involve products like bleach, salt, and baking soda, as they can harm nearby plants and alter the pH of the soil. These substances may take a long time to leach out, especially in the case of salt. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully consider how and where you apply them.

Warning

Do not add discarded sticker burrs to a compost pile, as their seeds can sprout in the decomposing material.

1. Manual Weed Removal

Remove the sticker burrs by hand. Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands as you grasp the weed at its base and pull it out. Dispose of the weeds in the garbage or burn them in a fire pit to prevent the seeds from spreading.

2. Installation of a Barrier

Create a barrier around the plant. While you can purchase barriers, you can also make your own. For example, cut off the top and bottom sections of a 2-liter plastic soda bottle and place it over the sticker burr plant before applying weed killer. This will prevent the product from spreading to the rest of your garden or lawn.

3. Utilize Baking Soda

Apply baking soda at the base of the sticker burr plant. The sodium in the baking soda will draw out moisture from the plant, causing it to dehydrate. Repeat this process at least once a week until the plant dies.

4. Sprinkle Salt

Sprinkle salt on the leaves and base of the plant. The salt will provide an even stronger dose of sodium to the soil compared to baking soda, resulting in rapid dehydration of the sticker burr.

5. Use Bleach

Pour undiluted bleach onto the sticker burr plant. After a few days, remove the plant from the ground. The bleach in the soil will prevent the plant from regrowing, but it can also affect the growth of other plants, so caution must be exercised.

6. Try Borax Powder

Sprinkle borax powder on the base of the plant. Borax powder contains an excessive amount of boron, which is a natural micronutrient for plants. In large quantities, boron damages and kills the weed.

7. Apply Vinegar to the Plant

Pour undiluted white or apple cider vinegar onto the plant. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which will draw moisture from the plant and cause it to dehydrate.

8. Bring on the Vodka

Mix 1 ounce of vodka, two drops of liquid soap, and 2 cups of water together. Pour this mixture onto the leaves of the sticker burr plant when the sun is at its highest point in the day. The alcohol, when exposed to sunlight, breaks down the waxy coating on the leaves and dehydrates the plant.

9. Scald With Boiling Water

Pour boiling water onto the plant. The high temperature of the water will quickly kill the plant without leaving any chemical residues in the soil.

Leave a Comment