L Olson (author) from Northern Arizona on April 03, 2013: @lionmom100: Oh, I hate those runner grasses too! So just look out for these and your goat will be OK Answer: I would do that, but you would have to rake to expose those underneath the top layer of sand, and depending on how big the pen is you could sift as many out as you can. I feel like this helped kill the weeds where I couldn't get the whole root, and it may have helped get small plants that had just taken root. Oh no! This presents a problem for many gardeners, especially those with children and pets. Nasty little things. The best part is that if allowed to grow and propagate, these beauties will help choke out goat's head weed. Here's what I tried first: I sprayed the plants with my regular weed killer, but that didn't work. Don't bring them home. They are Goat Heads here in Colorado and they suck. They have to be at least 4 … Pull them straight out with a finger on each side. Note: If you use a weed burner, you won't need to rake. Happily, I will not have to follow any of the advice now, since we live in a non-goat-head area ... but I remember those days. Read all labels as some of these can kill other plants you do not want to be harmed! To find the goathead burrs to eliminate them in the gravel , I walk around the yard in soft flip flops. The seeds of goatheads are hard to destroy, making it difficult to remove these plants. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It seems really hard to get rid of them. At first I thought I had not heard of this weed, being here in the Pacific Northwest, but then it dawned on me that I think I came across it when I lived in So Cal. mountain laurel. hemlock. yCommon weed across the U.S. yCommon invader in lawns and gardens yUsed in pastures in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Thankfully I'm only at war with an aggressive group of dandelions:). 99% of the time, you will pull up the root. Question: Do only the fresh green "goat heads" germinate? Unique Goat Head Stickers designed and sold by artists. Helpful. They always ran around without shoes in the summer time. You may not think you have them in your yard, but beware, if they are close by, they will find a way to your property. I hae been doing battle with these things ever since I bought tis place from my parens estate. You should see the vine start to die within six to 24 hours. If you live in an area with cold winters, the first freeze will kill goat's head weed. Teri Villars from Phoenix, Arizona on June 21, 2013: Funny, you commented on my lens that had a goat tree in it and now, I am commenting on your goat head lens, ha! Like many weedy species, this plant has numerous common names according to the world region, including goat's-head, bindii, bullhead, burra gokharu, bhakhdi, caltrop, small caltrops, cat's-head, devil's eyelashes, devil's-thorn, devil's-weed, puncture vine, and tackweed. Don't know the exact name of the stickers; we call them goatheads among other things. Uproot goat head weeds you find with a trowel, making sure you pull the entire root system as well … The prostrate stems radiate from a tap root and bear pairs of opposite leaves. If you have small children, make sure they always wear shoes in the house, to protect their little feet. To get rid of the burrs and stickers, use something that quickly kills them off without much work required on your part. I have to draw the line at trying to eliminate them from property that isn't mine, like the oil field lot and the easement owned by the water district for a canal that flows around my property. After they are dead, rake the plants and sweep up any thorn heads. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. The goathead weevils are suppose to be specific to the goatheads. This helps the product be more effective. Never heard them called "goat heads", here in Florida they're known as "sand spurs", and they are what prevent us from "frolicking barefoot through the grass". Weevils grubs develop inside the seed and pupate therein. They can be harmful to livestock, plants, and animals due to the sharp spines in their fruits or burrs. My story is as follows, scroll to the bottom paragraph for my solution/resists. and how I can get rid of them? locoweed. The weevils would be blown away from my yard, helping out my neighbors downwind perhaps, but leaving me open to a rear attack again. sorrel. Together they are known as puncture vine weevils. But as stated earlier, the plant reseeds aggressively, so be sure to clear your property of any thorns, stems, leaves, and roots. Carefully put a finger to each side of it and pull it straight out. Dont drag too much past the area so that you arent spreading the stickers. My front yard has been left bare due to home improvements some time now. I've found a weed killer that works like a charm on this evil pernicious plant. And now they are in all of our cattle pastures. My contractors mowed my lawn too low and far to many times. If you have large infestations, sweep with your propane weed burner, staying close to the ground to burn out as much of the roots as you can. 2 weeks should be enough time to suffocate the weeds though. It looks pretty here, but this plant will drive you insane if it gets established on your property. Not sure if good to buy this beautiful home. Adults overwinter in plant duff. For those of you who live in the southwestern U.S., Desert Mallow is a great natural wildflower to promote in your yard. I've heard that they kill off the new buds when they come out. Battled them for years but thank goodness for brick walls, pitch forks and lots of bond fires! Lori Green from Las Vegas on August 05, 2015: I just pulled one out of my foot. If you have not used chemicals, plant wildflowers and cultivate any other ground covers you can to choke the goat's head plants out. In weed management, it is important to use the proper herbicide. 5-10 minutes here and there will be better than one day every few months. It is amazing that you could find this dreadful weed and emerge victorious. So eat free and get rid of these pesky plants at the same time! My pets bring these things in the house, not sure where they are coming from, I don't have them in the yard. Then it produces little yellow or purple flowers. Moisture will cause it to either hug the ground (less moisture) or grow more upright, with more spreading vines (more moisture). The seeds can survive several years in the ground before they sprout. I have to admit the stickers could be great fun while green and still on the stalk. I have the challenge of trying to control these on a ranch. I am in process of getting rid of them now before they get out of hand. (Note: You can spray these at any time of the year, but beginning the following year, start on schedule to fully get them out of your yard.). Thank you for advice about non- chemical weed killer. Date: 08/24/2007 Writer: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ Pinterest. Dragging old carpet behind a vehicle will snag all the seeds up. Funny, informative and written with great style. In weed management, it is important to use the proper herbicide. Fortunately here we do not have goat heds. Use claw to carefully grab plant at center root and lift. It also goes by name other names (see below for a list), but to me, this plant is quite simply "The Enemy" and I am at war with it! It grows over … sand spurs or goathead weeds will also get a bicycle tire flat,if you ride your bicycle in the grass with sand spurs,you will get a flat tire,we live in north florida and i tell my kids and show them how the sand spurs will stick to the rubber tire and go through into the inner tube. But if they are already in your yard, it is too late for that! They are everywhere, invading my 2 acres and my home! I know this is true because my dogs did not winper in pain from having gotten stuck. Try to till the ground and it will lift many to an area where they can easily germinate. Eeeek! Goathead A seed of the puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris). Do you know what it actually is? Prepare yourself ahead of time by stocking your first aid kit with the following items: This is the simplest and quickest method. I will pull them up then. updated Jul 31, 2010 Bonnie Kuhlman wrote:Anyone have experience with using goathead weevils to get rid of goatheads?And before you scold, I know all plants have a place, but weevils need to eat We're trying to get a plan together for our 2.5 acres, but I just can't deal with the goatheads anymore. In merely battling this horrible burr which grows alongside crabgrass (with its seemingly single underground root system & impossible to identify ‘taproot’). wilted wild cherry. Remember, they are filling a void, & effectively so, but even those seeds that remain viable so deep and forgotten will not flourish unless the void returns. I thought some of our weeds were bad...ouch! It's good exercise and you discover other things happening in the yard too. Avoid spraying any "good" ground covers, as you want them to flourish and take space away from the Evil One. So plant something that will be happy (long-term) in its place and these can be vanquished, hopefully without the need for controlled burns or exorcism!!! Any help, suggestions would much be appreciated. I am NEVER going to emigrate if this is what may face me! The reason? The leaves look identical to the goat heads but they have purple flowers not yellow flowers. To get rid of these you need to spray Zamzows Ultra Lawn Weed Killer on the vines. Fertilized the lawn, which was perennial Bermuda grass, and put out some pre-emergent a couple of times in the spring and early summer to strengthen the lawn and help it out-compete the goat heads. After they produce their little flowers, the thorns begin to grow, nestled under the leaves and vines, all but invisible until the unwary come near. First time. Puncture vine is a broadleaf weed and must be treated with an herbicide specific to broadleaf weeds (which will not control grass weeds). In late summer, the plants produce spiny seed heads so hard and sharp they can penetrate shoes and tires. So no thorns! The goathead weevils are suppose to be specific to the goatheads. From the sounds of it, it seems that this weed is an absolute nightmare to try to destroy. I attack them as soon as I see their flowers, burn them with a torch, etc. These are the chemicals I have found to be effective when used as directed and in conjunction with the other tactics. Disclosure. Will it kill every plant you spray? Interestingly, both the weevil and the goat's head plant are native to Europe, so one can only assume that goat's head isn't as big a problem in its original habitat! So just look out for these and your goat will be OK The next spring the plants all emerged again. Goatheads are also called stickers, sticker weed, bullhead, devil’s weed, and puncturevine. For those of you who walk on areas of your property that have or have had these weeds, be sure to thoroughly wipe your shoes off on a rough surface or mat before entering your home. What really seems to have done well after many run-throughs last summer filling the yard waste container each week after running the weed whacker (in full boots jeans sleeves gloves & glasses) is that this year when I let the whole yard get knee high around Feb/Mar and cut it down nearly to dirt, then I don’t remove the carnage!!! Each seed may produce 1-3 weevils. Thank you for the suggestions. Do your homework on Roundup. I cannot say more than to suggest that you research them. Limp to your medicine cabinet/first aid kit and douse the wound in antiseptic, such as hydrogen peroxide or medicinal alcohol. I began my trek last spring & was so pleased this year to see a lovely ground cover taking over that I began watering in the early hours until I identified it as the spring version of this horrible devil! Depending on the moisture available, … The lot of land that surrounds this house has a. front yard that is roughly 30’x40’ has full sun from 10:30a til sundown and is made up of clay/sand/dust/rocks, apparently a stream ran through prior to development, which means that you can run a hose in one spot for 30 minutes and walk to the center of the pooled water with a teaspoon shallowly kick up dry dust. This product will kill the vines very quickly. L Olson (author) from Northern Arizona on April 26, 2014: @becky-roberts-520: Goat heads can have either color, yellow or purple. Goat's will eat them, not sure about the roots. The pool area was carpeted with them. Those pretty yellow flowers are deceptive. Without sunlight everything beneath the black plastic dies. It can start flowering within 3 weeks of germination, and continues to flower all summer. Problem for many gardeners, especially those with the other tactics pen for training my horses with WASHED.. 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