“Got Stickers?”
Every year about this time, folks walk through the door and say, “I’ve got stickers” My first thought is always, “What does the bumper sticker say?”
Once we get past the laugh, we start talking about the kind of stickers that poke your feet, stick to your socks, and make mowing miserable. Around San Angelo, these “sticker weeds” can come from a variety of culprits, khaki weed, sandbur, goathead, and a few others that all have one thing in common: they thrive in thin, dry turf.
In this week’s Insight, we’ll take a look at the most common sticker-producing weeds in our area, what they look like, and a few tips on how to stop them before they take over your lawn.
Summer Annuals
These sprout in late spring and produce stickers by late summer/fall.
Sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus)
Germinates: Late spring once soil temps reach 65 - 70°F.
Seeds/Burrs: Mid to late summer.
Control: Apply a spring pre-emergent like Prodiamine or Pendimethalin before soil temps hit 60°F. Maintain thick turf and fertilize to reduce open soil. Post-emergent control is limited Pastora or Quinclorac may suppress young plant
Burgrass (Tragus berteronianus)
Germinates: May through July, especially in dry, compacted soils.
Seeds/Burrs: Early to mid-summer.
Control: Use Prodiamine or Dimension as a pre-emergent. Encourage turf density with consistent fertility. Hand-remove small patches before burs form.
Khaki Weed / Matt Chaffflower (Alternanthera pungens)
Germinates: Late spring and early summer; spreads by rooting stems.
Seeds/Burrs: Throughout summer and fall.
Control: Spot treat with Celsius or Weedfree Zone, Trimec Southern or MSM. Remove taproot completely when hand pulling. Apply pre-emergent next spring to stop new plants.
Goathead (Tribulus terrestris)
Germinates: Late spring once soils warm above 70°F.
Seeds/Burrs: Summer to early fall burs stay viable for years.
Control: Apply 2,4-D + Dicamba early while plants are small. Hand-remove before burrs harden. Maintain soil fertility to shade out seedlings.
Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum)
Germinates: Late spring to early summer, often in disturbed soil.
Seeds/Burrs: Late summer, burs are large and spiny.
Control: Spot spray with 2,4-D or Dicamba before flowering. Improve turf cover to prevent re-establishment.
Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)
Germinates: Mid-spring to early summer after warm rains.
Seeds/Burrs: Late summer to early fall, burs cling to clothing and fur.
Control: Use 2,4-D early while plants are under 6 inches tall. Avoid mowing once burs appear to reduce spread.
Closing Thoughts
Most weed problems begin where grass is thin, compacted, or underfed. Weeds don’t outcompete healthy turf, they simply move into the open spaces where grass isn’t growing. When we focus only on killing weeds, we miss the bigger picture. The real solution is to grow grass strong enough to do the work for us.
At BES-TEX Supply, we believe in that simple idea: Stop killing weeds, start growing grass. A thick, vigorous stand of Bermuda or Zoysia naturally shades the soil, limits weed germination, and reduces chemical dependency over time.
If your lawn is struggling or full of stickers, stop by BES-TEX Supply. We’ll help you identify what’s causing the pressure and design a proper management program that builds density, strengthens roots, and keeps those burrs from coming back.