The Important Step You Shouldn't Skip Before Removing Goathead Weed

Weeds in your yard are never good news, but some weeds are so harmful that their destruction literally has the government's stamp of approval. They are known as 'noxious weeds' and the goathead weed or puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is sitting pretty on that list. There are many ways to get puncturevine out of your lawn but one step you shouldn't overlook is wearing heavy-duty protective clothing to avoid injury from the sharp seeds.

You'll need this safety equipment because you'll need to remove the plant first to give you more access to the real cause of your persisting problem: the seeds in those dreaded fallen thorns. Goatheads reproduce via seeds, which are viable for four to five years. So even when the plants die during the cold seasons, these seeds can remain dormant in the soil until conditions are favorable again for them to germinate and grow. Uprooting the plants, then collecting any fallen seeds is a great method to follow. Goathead rollers work by picking up these seeds via a fabric sleeve and scraping them into a catch basin. When the basin is full, you can empty it in cardboard for safe disposal. You can get one for $295 from the official Goathead Roller website. Alternatively, you could use an old carpet to collect the seeds. Simply press the carpet over the area with the plants and the barbs on the thorns will cling to it.

While hand pulling is one of the least harmful ways to get rid of weeds, be sure to wear thick gloves, boots, and coveralls while working with goathead weed. Their thorns can puncture bicycle tires, so flimsy gloves, clothes, or footwear don't stand a chance. 

The best time to uproot these weeds is before they bloom and start producing seeds. You have to be vigilant as they can go from seedling to flowering plants in just three weeks. Goathead weeds typically flowers from late spring to early fall, so you should start looking out for them in early spring. It's a good idea to gently water the ground beforehand to soften the soil so the taproot system can be removed more easily, but try not to water too much to prevent seeds from getting spread in the runoff. Always pull from a sideways angle to prevent snapping the stem and leaving the taproot in the soil. Do note that if there's an infestation close to your home, chances are that some can be reintroduced to your yard via vehicles, footwear, animals, etc. This means you have to keep monitoring your yard closely as goathead weeds are difficult to eradicate and will capitalize on any common weeding mistakes you make to come back to your yard.