Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Farm & Home News

Many times homeowners forget about those stickers in their yard until they step on one in the spring. By the time the stickers have formed on the weeds it is really too late to take control measures.

At this point a herbicide application may kill the weed, however, the dead plant still contains a dead spine-tipped burr. Dead or alive, the spiny burr still presents a problem. The only option left at this stage is to wait for them to decompose.

Spurweed can be easily controlled during the winter months. Homeowners may apply herbicides from December through February to control Spurweed problems in their yard. The key factor to effectively control Spurweed is to apply an appropriate herbicide during the winter months. Spurweed is small and easier to control at this time of year than in April and May. Also, turfgrasses are not actively growing during the winter months and have a better tolerance of some herbicides.

Spurweed can be controlled in late March, April and early May. However, two primary facts should be considered: Spurweed begins to die when late spring temperatures approach 90 F, the plant is harder to control once the spiny burs or stickers have formed, and multiple herbicide applications are usually necessary, thus increasing the risk of temporary injury to turf grass.

For more information concerning home lawn weed control contact the Extension office at 887-2818.

A private applicator's pesticide training will be held at the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service Thursday, December 14, at 6:30 p.m.