So you have stickers in your yard. You've tried everything to get rid of them, but nothing seems to work! Stickers are a nuisance and can be difficult to remove.
Luckily, there are some simple steps for removing stickers from the ground.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the sticker types and how to get rid of stickers in yards and gardens!
5 Different Types of Stickers
There are many different types of stickers.
Some of them include:
- Sand Burrs/Sandburs: These are small stickers found on the ground in sandy areas. They have tiny spines that stick into your skin and can be very painful to remove.
- Grass Burrs: Grass bur stickers are found near grassy areas and have long, sharp spines that easily pierce your skin. They often get stuck in clothes and hair.
- Sticker Burrs/Burweed Stickers: As the name suggests, these stickers feature stick-like bristles that can easily penetrate your skin. They are often found on plants and bushes, but they also grow wild in some areas of the U.S., like Kansas.
- Pricking Monsters: These stickers look like small balls covered with spikes sticking out all over their surface. As you pick it up, the ball unfurls, and the spikes shoot into your hand.
- Lawn/Grass Stickers: These stickers are also known as “cat's claws” because they look like small cats' claws in a circular shape with very sharp points on all sides. They grow wild along roadsides, fields, and other grassy areas.
Ways to Get Rid of Stickers
1. Remove Stickers by Rake
Removing stickers by rake can be a tedious process, but it is one of the most effective ways to remove them. If you have a large area with stickers, it is best to start at one end and work your way across.
Make sure to collect all of the stickers you rake up, as leaving any behind will only result in more work later.
However, raking involves a lot of effort to remove all stickers from your yard. But it is well worth it in the end!
2. Use MSMA Product
If the stickers are on your driveway or sidewalk, you can use an MSMA product to dissolve them.
Mix a gallon of water with one tablespoon of MSMA and spray it onto the sticker. The solution will cause the sticker to disintegrate in minutes, so you can easily sweep it away.
3. Pre-emergent and Post-Emergent Treatments
You can take preventive measures to prevent stickers from germinating. These are known as pre-emergent measures.
Use pre-emergent herbicides like Preen, which prevent new stickers from growing. The best time for this treatment is in the early spring, before new stickers have a chance to grow.
If stickers are already in your yard, you need post-emergent measures to battle them. Use post-emergent weed killers like Round Up from Amazon to kill them off.
4. Soil Fertilization
Fertilizers like nitrogen and phosphorus and soil conditioners like peat moss or compost can break down stickers beneath the surface. These materials contain carbon, which helps break apart organic materials such as paper and straws, which make up most stickers.
Also, stickers grow mostly in patches with poor soil quality. So, fertilizing your soil makes it harder for stickers to grow. You should also add organic matter to the soil, improving its quality and making it difficult for stickers to take hold. A healthy lawn doesn’t support the growth of stickers.
5. Weed Control
Weeds are a major contributor to sticker growth. Weeds provide the perfect environment for stickers to grow, as they compete with grass for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Therefore, controlling weed is key to preventing sticker patches.
There are many different types of weed killers available on the market, so be sure to choose specifically for stickers. Use herbicides like Round Up or Weed B Gon, but ensure that you read the instructions carefully before applying them.
Apply the weed killer to the affected area and let it soak in. It kills stickers in the grass and any other weeds that might be present.
6. Fall Gardening
If you have trouble getting rid of stickers in your yard, they may be growing in the fall. Fall is a great time for sticker growth, as the cooler temperatures and rain provide ideal conditions for them to thrive.
The best way to deal with stickers in the fall is by using pre-emergent weed killers like Preen, which will prevent new stickers from growing up.
7. Mulching
Mulching is a great way to get rid of stickers in your yard. By mulching, you cover the ground with a material layer that will help break down the stickers. You can do this by using leaves, straw, or bark chips.
Be sure to cover the entire area where the stickers are present. You may need to add mulch every couple of weeks or so to get rid of them from your yard effectively.
8. Lawn Mowing
If you have stickers in your yard, the chances are that it is because the lawn needs to be cut. When grass gets taller, especially Bermuda Grass, which grows very fast, it increases the risk of sticker burs.
So, make sure to mow your lawn at least once a week during the growing season.
9. Heat Gun
Heat guns are a great way to get rid of stickers from the ground. This method is safe for your lawn as it does not involve chemicals. However, it can be hard to do independently, especially if you have a large yard.
The heat gun helps get rid of weeds and sticker burrs simultaneously, so this might be a good option if you want to kill two birds with one stone.
10. White Vinegar
White vinegar is a godsend in your battle against stickers. It kills the seeds before they have a chance to take hold.
Since vinegar does not harm grass, you can spray it over an area where your lawn meets up with weeds or other plants that might be full of stickers.
11. Burn the Entire Plant
If you have a lot of stickers in your yard, one way to get rid of them is to burn the entire plant.
Use a blowtorch or set it on fire with an accelerant like gasoline. Be very careful when doing this as it can be dangerous. Ensure there are no flammable materials nearby, like dry grass or leaves.
12. Manual Picking
Cut off the stickers in grass by hand carefully one at a time. Although it is tedious, you can save money because there will be no need to buy new equipment.
Gather the stickers in one place and burn them up or dispose of them in a different location. However, manual picking of stickers is tedious and time-consuming.
