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