Question
My yard is covered in "stickers!"  I also have 2 small house dogs,and they get them stuck in their paws!  Quite a pain trying to get them out of their paws!  Is there a quicker way to rid my yard of stickers organically; other than hoeing them up or waiting for sugar to enrich the soil?  Please help!  8 paws full of stickers and trying to pick them out is quite a pain - for both dog(s) and owner.  Hope to hear from you very soon!

Miserable in Texas!

Answer
Those Spiky Stickers come from an Annual Grassy Weed called the Sandbur.  

Ever read Texas Monthly Magazine?

Their columnist Mimi Swartz wrote a whole column one time about Sandburs and their Sticker seeds: 'The best ways to get rid of Sandburs are (a) mow and water your Lawn frequently, or (b plant St Augustine Grass, which shades and crowds out Sandbur, or (c)pull the Sandburs out.

You can read the whole entertaining lecture on the Internet:  

www.texasmonthly.com/ranch/readme/index.php

Ms Swartz also recalled the experience of a researcher at Texas A&M University.  She said he 'confessed  that it took him three years to get his yard Sticker-free'.  His secret technique: He pulled them out by hand.

Impossible?

She adds, 'But it worked.'

And speaking of Texas A&M. there is a world famous Sandbur specialist working there who posted a whole cheat sheet on this problem, which he calls 'Controlling Field Sandbur in Turfgrass':

aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/grassbur.html

The specialist uses MSMA (except on St Augustine or Centipede Lawns, which will be killed by MSMA).  This is a mix of two deadly chemicals, and he uses them as pre-emergents.  That way they wipe out the Seeds.

Other chemicals that kill Sandburs: Pendimethalin, Benefin, and Oryzalin.  But he doesn't mention  that Oryzalin is a known cause of Cancer and caused changes in blood forming tissues in one study.  It is used by breeders to alter normal mitosis in rapidly dividing Lily cells to turn a diploid Lily into a  Tetraploid -- although this is just a side 'benefit' that hobbyists  discovered by accident with this herbicide.  Or that Benefin caused Liver  damaged in dogs that were exposed to it.

Pendimethalin?  Cornell University says this weedkiller 'is ranked more hazardous than most chemicals in two out of four ranking systems, and is ranked as ONE OF THE MOST HAZARDOUS COMPOUNDS (in the worst ten percent) to ecosystems and health'.

But the Texas A&M scientists ALSO points out that Organic controls are the better way to live:  'A dense stand of healthy Grass provides the best Weed control.  Because most Weeds are opportunists that invade weakened Lawns, the fight against Weeds starts with good management.  All cultural practices such as mowing, fertilizing and watering should be done in a manner and time that will favor the Grass rather than the Weeds.  Height of mowing influences competition against Weeds such as Crabgrass -- the higher the cut, the lower the infestation.

Frequent light sprinkling encourages shallow-rooted Weeds and seed germination.  Less frequent deep-soak watering that maintains a dry surface layer provides the Grass with a competitive advantage.'  Debra, You don't want to wreck your blessed home over this.  Avoid pesticides.

You want to breathe and mow and feed the Birds.  You're in good company with your Stickers Situation.  It's one of those prices of living in Texas.  Here in NY, we have our problems too.  Who knows when some guy will come along and blow up the Brooklyn Bridge?

We deal with it.  Go deal with those Stickers, Debra.  And thank heaven for your Intelligence and respect for Nature and your Lawn and the beautiful Earth we all live in.  Keep me posted.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER