Sandspur and Sandbur

This blog was inspired by a comment from Dan to the Green Light Web Site suggesting they put information on controlling Sandspur on that site.  Who knows it may appear.

Sandspurs and sandburs are very closely related and most likely often mixed up. Both are members of the Genus Cenchrus with different species names. They are hated and despised because the seed pod has stickers that will attach to clothing, shoes, and puncture bare feet causing great pain.  They are common in hot climates and grow well in sandy soils.  They are seasonal during hot weather but can grow all year around in tropical climates. 

Control should be similar for all members of the Cenchrus family of weeds. The best way to control sandburs  is to prevent them. This can be done with good soil residual herbicides such as Amaze Grass & Weed Preventer from Green Light. Amaze applied at the right rates will prevent germination for several months and may need reapplied after 6 to 8 months in climates with long growing seasons. Amaze can be used on bare ground in ornamental plant beds and in Bermudagrass and St Augustine lawns. You may also use Crabgrass Preventer with Dimension in any species of lawn and it will provide 3 to 4 months of residual control. Remember to reapply either product when the residual period is over as new seeds will germinate. All preventative products must be applied before seeds germinate. Both the above products need about 1/2 inch of rain or irrigation water to activate the product and move it into the soil to create a barrier weeds can't grow through.  Neither product will injure ornamental plants or grasses that are well establighed with strong root systems.  Kids and pets can enter the area after application.  They won't even be able to contact the herbicide after it is watered in. 

For existing sandspur plants either remove them by hand or spray them with a product containing glyphosate such as ComPleet Systemic Grass & Weed Killer. Hand weeding isn't easy, especially in a lawn. Glyphosate sprayed on plants in a lawn will also kill any desired lawn grass it comes in contact with.  Try to identify and remove plants before the seed pods develop and harden.

The Garden Doc

Seeds

January #2 – Garden Seeds

Several garden seed catalogues recently arrived in the mail.  Choosing garden seeds is one of the more fun things I do every year.  Vegetables I love to grow are potatoes, sweet corn, onions and carrots.  Why?  I like eating them, and they store for a long time to enjoy throughout the year.   Each year I try several varieties of each.  Potato varieties are limited but there are numerous varieties of sweet corn, onions and carrots.  

A good reason to grow potatoes and carrots is they are very healthy food.  Potatoes are an excellent source of potassium which supports a good electrolyte balance in the body.  Carrots provide carotene which is a very good anti oxidant.  Both are a good source of vitamins.  Onions are probably the number one vegetable for flavoring foods.  Sweet corn is my favorite and will be discusses in detail in future posts.

Many years ago my wife had me read a book about medical mysteries.  A guy’s skin had turned orange.  He was in good health in all other ways.  The doctor was a little mystified.  After a thorough search through his background it was discovered he drove more than average.  As he drove, his wife would peel carrots and he would eat them.  The over consumption of carrots supplied his body with an excess of carotene.  Carotene was absorbed into his body at a high enough rate to cause his skin to be orange. 

Happy garden planning.

The Garden Doc

Introduction

January - Introduction

This blog will be updated weekly with postings to help solve garden problems, provide timely advice, give ideas, and help with garden needs.  During slow times of the year I will offer musing from my experience.  Many of the posts will be to discuss certain pest problems, be they weeds, disease, or insects.  Instructions will follow as to how to control those pests.  I currently work for a company named Green Light, which offers many solutions that will be of value for controlling most pest problems.

A short introduction about me is in order.  I grew up in the state of Idaho on a farm with beef and dairy animals and a large garden.  The garden was used to grow food for the table.  Being an Idahoan my father grew potatoes and later I worked for other potato growers for jobs to earn money to attend college.  My yearning desire as a youth was to gain an education to make a better life for me and my future family.  After a BS degree in Agronomy/Horticulture I attended graduate school and obtained advanced degrees in agronomy in Ohio and North Dakota.  For over 25 years I have developed products for agriculture and lawn & garden companies in the US.  Many products I have developed are being widely used to help people have better lawns, yards, gardens, and food crops to feed people.  My specialty has become pest control, meaning insects, weeds and diseases.  These opportunities have helped me be well versed on most of the problems people have growing plants through out the United States.  I love seeing things grow to produce good things to eat, beauty, and a pleasant environment.  My work has taken me to several foreign countries and allowed me to see people and agriculture in many different ways.

Check back next week.  The Garden Doc