how to get rid of prickly weeds

November 17, 2024 by Robby

Tackling Troublesome Thorny Weeds A Guide to Removing Prickly Intruders

Nothing ruins a stroll across your lawn or garden quite like the sudden prick of a thorny weed. Prickly plants like thistles brambles and burrs can quickly take over your yard. Their sharp spines and thorns make them unpleasant and difficult to control.

Getting rid of these pesky invaders takes diligence and the right techniques. In this guide, we’ll explore smart strategies to banish even the most stubborn spiky weeds from your property.

Why Remove Thorny Weeds?

Prickly weeds may seem like just an annoyance at first. But leaving them to spread can cause some serious issues:

Painful injuries from spines and thorns
Increased difficulty and frustration doing yardwork

Damage to lawn mowers, tires, shoes, and paws
Crowding out desired grass and plants
Lowered property value from unsightly overgrowth

Spreading seeds to neighboring properties

Controlling thorny weeds early prevents these problems and creates a safer, tidier landscape.

Physical Removal of Prickly Weeds

For small infestations, manual removal may be the best solution. Here are some tips:

Protect yourself. Wear thick gloves, long sleeves and pants to avoid scratches. Goggles prevent eye injuries too.

Remove taproots. Use a long screwdriver or dandelion puller tool to pry up and remove all of the root. This prevents regrowth.

Seal root tips. Dab brush killer onto severed roots to kill any remnants left behind.

Pull before seeds set. Focus on elimination before flowers and seed heads develop.

Bag and dispose of debris. Don’t add spiny plants to compost. Put in sealed bags then trash.

Solarize the soil. Cover with clear plastic for several hot weeks to bake weed seeds.

Stay vigilant. Patrol for new seedlings and remove quickly before established.

For large areas, manual control becomes impractical. That’s when herbicide applications can help eradicate prickly weeds efficiently.

Using Chemical Herbicides on Prickly Weeds

Herbicides provide an effective way to wipe out weeds over a whole yard or field. Use these tips:

Select the right product. Check the label to ensure your herbicide controls the target weeds.

Use a pre-emergent in spring. These prevent seeds from sprouting and reduce new weed growth.

Spray early. Treating young, actively growing weeds gets the best results. Avoid drought-stressed plants.

Add a surfactant. This helps the herbicide stick to and penetrate waxy or hairy weed leaves.

Reapply as needed. Follow up applications may be required for total eradication.

Avoid drift. Use a low pressure, coarse spray to minimize overspray onto desirable plants.

Read all precautions. Follow label directions exactly and observe the stated re-entry interval.

How to Remove Specific Prickly Weeds

Certain thorny weeds require tailored removal methods. Here are tips for some of the most common.

Thistles – Cut flowering stems before seed heads mature. Mow regularly to prevent flowering. Use targeted thistle herbicides containing clopyralid or triclopyr.

Brambles – Remove root crowns using a shovel or weed popper tool. Cut canes to the ground in spring and summer. Apply systemic brush killer to fresh cut stumps.

Goathead Burr – Pull young plants before burs form. Pre-emergent herbicide in spring prevents seed germination. Mow to prevent seed production.

Cocklebur – Hand pull plants before burs develop. Spot treat with broadleaf weed killer. Allow Cornell’s cocklebur-killing weevil to feed on plants.

Jimsonweed – Wear protective clothing and pull out entire taproot. Never compost. Pre-emergent herbicide prevents growth. Frequent mowing also controls spread.

Teasel – Hand pull rosettes before flowering stalks emerge. Mow or weed whip to stop seed production. Fall herbicide application on rosettes provides control.

Horsenettle – Hand pull young plants. Spot treat established weeds with systemic herbicide. Dispose of toxic berries carefully.

Lawn Burweed – Improve lawn thickness to crowd out this weed. Pre-emergent herbicide prevents germination. Mow to stop seed production.

Sowthistle – Manually remove taproots. Spot treat rosettes with broadleaf weed killer. Prevent flowering and seed production.

With persistence and the right techniques, even the most painful prickly weeds can be banished for good. Consult local garden centers or extension offices for advice on the best control methods for your area. With a strategic weed removal plan in place, you’ll reclaim a comfortable weed-free landscape to enjoy.

Natural Ways to Deter Prickly Weeds

In addition to direct removal methods, some natural techniques help discourage prickly weeds and prevent regrowth:

Maintain healthy turf or garden plants to outcompete weeds.
Spread mulch to block light from reaching weed seeds. Organic mulches also inhibit germination.
Solarize soil using clear plastic to heat-kill weed seeds in summer.

Corn gluten meal provides natural pre-emergent weed control with no chemicals.
Boiling water kills weeds and seeds when poured directly on unwanted vegetation.
Vinegar has acetic acid that can be used as a natural herbicide on some weeds. Results vary.

Encourage natural weed eaters like goats, geese, chickens and slugs.

An integrated approach using several complementary methods gives the best control over prickly plant invaders. Consult local garden resources to build an effective strategy tailored to your climate and problem weeds. With smart prevention and removal, you can reclaim your yard from painful pests.

Common Prickly Weeds to Watch For

Be on the lookout for these common thorns and spines when patrolling your property:

Bull Thistle – Spiny stems and leaves. Purple flowers.
Canada Thistle – Spines along leaf margins. Small lavender blooms.

Brambles – Thorny canes of blackberry and raspberry plants.
Cactus – Large spines emerge from bumps on succulent, green stems.
Sandbur – Tiny spines cover seed burs that grasp onto clothing.

Burdock – Hooked bracts around prickly flower heads cling to fur and fabrics.
Hawthorne – Long, sharp thorns along branches. White flower clusters.
Honey Locust – Branched thorns emerge from trunk and limbs. Feathery leaves.

Holly – Sharp, stiff spines along leaf margins. Red berries.
Pyracantha – Dense, nasty thorns adorn this popular shrub.

Keep an eye out for these and other less-common prickly weeds. Identifying unwanted plants quickly leads to faster, more effective control. Know your enemy and employ integrated weed management for lasting relief from spines and thorns!

Organic way to remove thistles from the garden

FAQ

What are the prickly weeds in my yard called?

Thistles are most aggressive in nitrogen-rich, well-aerated soil with sufficient moisture — the conditions found in well-maintained lawns. These lawn weeds often go unnoticed until a person or pet discovers the painful, thorny leaves. If allowed to flower and get a foothold, thistles are persistent threats.

Will vinegar kill prickly weeds?

Yes, it will. Vinegar contains acetic acid, a desiccant that draws out moisture from the foliage and causes the weeds to dry out and die. However, if you want to maximize vinegar’s weed killing power, include some salt and a little dish soap.

What kills thistles permanently?

However, a weed killer with glyphosate (Roundup) is the only proven method to permanently kill thistle. Roundup bonds to soil, not water, and is only truly effective for about 6 months after application…so if your son is still not independently mobile, it might be your best shot to eliminate the problem.

How do you get rid of prickly thorns?

Option 1: dig them up. Get rid of all the roots. Religiously remove any small shoots that re-appear from root fragments. Option 2. Hit them with glyphosate weedkiller first, leave for a couple of weeks, then dig them up. This makes it less likely they’ll come back.

Does vinegar kill prickly weeds?

Take care to avoid disturbing the surrounding grass and desirable plants. Vinegar Solutions: Vinegar can be an effective natural herbicide when used in concentrated form. Spray or pour white vinegar directly onto the foliage of the prickly weeds, making sure to saturate the leaves. The acetic acid in vinegar helps to scorch and kill the weeds.

How do you remove prickly weeds?

Using a weeding tool is a good option for removing prickly weeds that are too difficult to get rid of by hand. Weeding tools make an easier job of digging or cutting spiny weeds. To remove deep-rooted weeds, you can use a gardening shovel to dig around and under the weed and lift it out of the soil.

How do you kill prickly weed above ground?

To kill the prickly weed above ground, make sure the plant is well soaked. It’s also a good idea to soak the soil with vinegar around the weed. Why? Because if you don’t kill the roots the prickly weed will often grow back. You might have to apply vinegar to the root zone a few times.

Are prickly weeds bad?

Prickly weeds are among the worst weeds to find in your garden. They’re painful to stand on and brush against. And their sharp spines make weed removal difficult. But it’s important not to let them grow. Because the only thing worse than a prickly weed is a yard full of them. Despite the difficulties, you can get rid of prickly weeds by hand.

What is a prickly lawn weed?

Burr Medic, Goat Head Weed, and Lawn Burweed are low-growing prickly lawn weeds. Spiny Sowthistle and Spiny Cocklebur are high-growing spiky weeds you may see on your lawn that can release painful burrs you may never see. Carolina Horsenettle and Jimson Weed are nightshade relatives and are both weeds with thorns on their stems.

How do prickly weeds grow?

It can grow tall with yellow flowers and spreads through wind-dispersed seeds. Puncturevine: Puncturevine, also called goathead weed, is a common prickly weed that forms small yellow flowers followed by spiky seed pods. They can be particularly problematic in areas with foot traffic or recreational activities.

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