Grass burrs in a lawn aren’t a good sight. The farthest they spread, the worse they make grass and flowers look. Worse, they compete with healthy plants for light, air, and nutrients, and could more than likely hamper the growth of the very plants you wish to nurture in the first place.
Fortunately, you do have total control over grass burrs.
By learning what grass burrs are and knowing exactly how to get rid of them, you’ll ensure that healthy grass and flowers get air, water, light, and nutrients necessary for their continuous growth.
So in this guide, we’ll look at:
- What grass burrs are
- How you can identify them and
- How to get rid of grass burrs in lawn
Let’s get started.
Contents
- What are Grass Burrs?
- How to Get Rid of Grass Burrs in Lawn
- 1. Treat your lawn with hot water or bleach
- 2. Treat the Lawn with Vinegar or Salt
- 3. Pull the grass burrs by hand
- Frequently Asked Questions on grass burrs removal
- 1. What kills grass burrs in a lawn?
- 2. How effective is vinegar in getting rid of grass burrs?
- 3. When it’s the best time to spray my lawn with pre-emergence herbicides?
- 4. Can pre-emergent herbicides kill grass in my lawn?
- Author
What are Grass Burrs?
Also known as field sandburs, grass burrs are grassy weeds that grow in lawns, sports fields, and parks in the summer. While they can sprout on any type of soil, grass burrs tend to thrive more in dry sandy soil.
More often than not, these unwanted weeds will start to germinate in the late spring, develop in the summer, and then grow until the first frost occurs in the falls season.
Grass burrs are easy to identify. They feature sharp, spiny bars, which can easily attach to your cloth. And given that they are foreign plants, they’ll more than likely compete with your healthy grass for nutrients.
The best way to deal with grass burrs is to keep them from growing in the first place. But if your lawn already has them, keep reading to learn how you can remove them.
How to Get Rid of Grass Burrs in Lawn
Sticker burrs can make your lawn look messy. And if they happen to spread to where you pass a lot more frequently, they’ll tear your skin and cause you pain, itchiness, and irritation.
And now that you know what they are and how to identify them, here’s what you can do to keep them from terrorizing you and your lawn:
1. Treat your lawn with hot water or bleach
The simplest method to kill grass burrs is to pour hot water directly onto the plant. A round of applications should be enough, although you might need to repeat the process several times for the best results.
Many lawn owners find this solution more effective because it kills grass burrs faster without leaving chemicals in the soil.
Don’t overheat the water. Heat it to room temperature instead. That way, you can protect the delicate tissue of your lawn’s grass from scalding.
You can also douse the grass burrs with undiluted bleach, making sure you repeat the process a couple of times to keep the burrs from growing back.
Also: Eradicate cheatgrass in garden
2. Treat the Lawn with Vinegar or Salt
Apple cider and white vinegar contain acetic acid that can draw moisture from grass burrs. After some time, the burrs dehydrate and eventually die out.
Fill a large spray bottle with undiluted apple cider or white vinegar. Spray the solution directly on the grass burrs. Repeat the process every day until the grass burrs die out.
You can also use salt instead of vinegar to achieve the same results. In this case, sprinkle salt directly onto the grass burrs. The sodium content will draw moisture from the grass burrs, hydrate the plants, and eventually kill them while leaving your grass healthy.
If you like, you can mix the salt with baking soda to create a stronger mixture that kills the grass burrs fast.
Killing mushrooms with baking soda
3. Pull the grass burrs by hand
You can pull the grass burrs by hand and dispose them off if they’ve spread out only to a small portion of your lawn. This method tends to be slower, but it’s still more effective and you should therefore consider it if you have the time to spare.
First, wear your gardening gloves to protect your hands from the burrs. We recommend you get these COOLJOB Gardening Gloves if you don’t have a pair yet.
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They are durable, versatile, and fit most hands.
Now grab the grass burrs from the base of the plant and pull them out. Once you’re sure you’ve pulled all the weeds from the lawn, collect them from the grass and dispose them off in the hidden wheelie bin.
Doing so ensures that the burrs don’t take root and state spreading out again in your yard.
Allow the grass burrs some time to dry and then burn them in a fire fit.
Frequently Asked Questions on grass burrs removal
1. What kills grass burrs in a lawn?
Pre-emergent herbicide with atrazine is quite effective in killing grass burrs in lawns. It works faster than the vinegar solution and therefore ensures that the grass burrs die out the same day of application.
2. How effective is vinegar in getting rid of grass burrs?
Although it doesn’t work as fast as herbicide with atrazine, vinegar is also effective in removing grass burrs from the lawn without much effort on your part.
White vinegar seems to work particularly well, easily killing even the most stubborn sticker weeds from the lawn.
3. When it’s the best time to spray my lawn with pre-emergence herbicides?
The best time to apply pre-emergence herbicide to any type of sticker weed is before grass seeds start to germinate.
If anything, it’s best to apply the solution in early October and make sure you follow the directions issued on the pre-emergence herbicide label.
Also read: What kind of PPE should be worn when spraying pesticides?
4. Can pre-emergent herbicides kill grass in my lawn?
Pre-emergent chemicals will get rid of grass burrs from your lawn without killing your grass.
Just make sure you apply the product as recommended on the label, making sure you do so when the soil’s temperature is at least 52 degrees F.
Grass burrs can easily ruin the health and quality of your lawn, which is why it’s important to get rid of them as soon as you notice them.
Since you’ve already learned about the different methods of dealing with grass burrs, all you have to do is to pick a method that you find easy to apply and use to keep your grass lawn healthy and in the best condition possible.
