Grass Burrs Part II

Every yard I have owned with sandy soil had grass burrs at one time or another. Even if they weren’t in the yard when I moved, they soon found their way in. They probably came on the bottom of my boots or from truck tires. Our family ranch was the source of the seed.

Like most weeds, grass burrs are a sign of poor soil nutrition. Over the years of watching people waste money on silly fixes, I came to realize that these were a waste of time and money.

Facts

• Vacuuming up grass burr seeds in a bagging mower does not prevent more seeds from being produced by the same plant that year.

• You cannot “shred” or “mow” grass burr grasses into submission. It usually spreads them.

• Mowing sometimes creates more seed heads and thus more seed.

• Using towels and sacks for the seed to “grab onto” only spreads more seed even if a few seed stick to the towel. Besides, who would use that towel afterwards?

•As I said in Part I, weed killers and herbicides do not work, but make the problem worse.

• Pulling helps, but seed in the ground will generate new plants.

• Applying corn meal does not work.

• When properly applied as an organic pre-emergent herbicide, corn gluten meal has a positive effect on diminishing grass burrs. But to be effective, its application must be properly timed. Carefully follow label directions.

On the lawn

• Apply ½ bag of organic fertilizer per square foot rate every month (March-October).

• Immediately follow up this application with corn gluten meal. OR

• Applying compost twice a year or more will provide the lawn with the nutrients that help the lawn compete with the grass burr seed. You will need one half to one inch per application.

• Healthy soil microbes act like a pre-emergent herbicide for seed or kill the seed.

• Healthy soil makes for a more beautiful lawn.

• Mow the lawn correctly. If you don’t know how, take one of my classes. Don’t assume you know, most people with grass burrs don’t.

• Do this every year until grass burr plants disappear from the landscape.

At the Ranch

• Compost applied at rates as low as a cubic yard per acre will start reversing the problem. Add more if possible. The limit to the amount of compost you can apply is closely associated with your pocketbook and back. Spreading compost is difficult but necessary to eliminate the problem. If you are going to spread large amounts, purchase a manure spreader. I spread mine with a bucket on the front end of the tractor.

• Taller pasture grasses reduce seed germination (due to reduced light on the soil surface) and promote healthier more fertile soils that suppress grass burr growth.

• The soil needs to be covered by leaf litter, and green grass year-round. Even though grass burrs do not grow in the winter, open soil is an invitation for germination come spring.

The only way to successfully remove grass burrs is to improve soil fertility.

A. Using organic fertilizers, apply ½ bag per the application rate each month from February to October (for lawns and small pastures). Organic fertilizers are helpful but must be followed up with proper lawn and pasture management. This is the expensive option.

B. Composting the soil and grass, twice a year, at one half inch or more with each application begins the healing. Compost works faster than fertilizers and is usually cheaper to apply. Spreading compost requires a lot of hard work, but it does not need to be spread perfectly to be effective. After spreading, rake or mow to even out the high spots. The more compost applied, the faster the grass burrs disappear. Composting increases earthworm populations which decreases grass burrs.

C. Shade out seed on pastureland by keeping the soil covered with a thick, dense turf created by practicing Management Intensive Grazing. Shade alone will not solve the problem. I have seen many pastures thick with Bermuda grass and thicker with grass burrs.

D. Adding humus, biochar and or humic acids plus compost and good management practices will help retain moisture and nutrients. This grows thicker grass and forces out grass burrs.

E. Planned rotational grazing systems like MiG or MOB can help rid the land of grass burrs.

F. Seed will rot in fertile soil. Credit soil microbes with helping to kill many seed.

G. It takes effort every year until the problem stops. There are no one time fixes.

David E. Will is a local rancher in Fayette County. He can be reached at (830) 629-9876.