Sticky weed is common burweed in Georgia that germinates in the fall and starts a rapid growth cycle in the early spring. According to Tim Murphy, Extension Weed Scientist at the University of Georgia, it can be identified by its hairy leaves, small flowers, and spine tipped burs at the leaf axils. The spiny tips of its burs can irritate the skin, and they are an unwelcome element to any lawn or turf grass.
The best time to control sticky weed is during the winter. Herbicides can be applied all the way into early spring. However, it is not too late to control your sticky weed in late spring or summer months. It just requires a different tactic.
Once it is warmer, and temperatures are above 55 degrees, herbicides can be applied to certain types of grasses for effective sticky weed control. For example, 2,4-D and dicamba mixtures can be applied to tall fescue lawns or fall overseeded bermudagrass lawns (as long as the cool-season grass has been mowed at least four times). This can be applied multiple times in 3-week increments.
Unfortunately, sticky weed is hard to control once its burs have formed. Even once it is under control, the burs will remain until they decompose. This is why you should try to eliminate burweed/sticker weed before it has a chance to establish itself.
If you don’t get to it during the summer months, that’s okay. As previously mentioned, it is easier to control sticky weed during the winter and early spring months when the plant is small. This has the added advantage of applying herbicides on dormant grass, which typically does less damage.
Basically, if you have sticky weed in your yard, you have a problem. That means it needs to be remedied ASAP. If it has already established burs and is hurting people's feet, it may take a couple seasons to totally get rid of it. You might as well start now. It isn’t going to get better on its own.
Depending on your grass type, different herbicides will work better at different times of the year. Contact your local extension office or lawn care specialist for recommendations about how to rid your lawn of sticky weed, or whatever terrible nickname you may have given it.
Don’t let your lawn be a hazard to bare feet! Start taking care of your burweed today and get that luxurious green carpet you’ve always wanted.
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