I have been taking a survey of all my neighbors. "Do you have stickers?"
"Yes!" they usually respond.
These are not just little prickly pests. They hurt, they draw blood, they make grown men cry. The jump off the ground and attach their burs to your toes if you are wearing sandals or crocks. You need snake boots to water the lawn.
What's worse, is that they invade the house. You can check the bottom of your shoes and see the burs imbedded in your athletic shoes, sandals, and especially flip flops.
And once in the house, look out! They are stuck in the rug and bath mat. Then they get in the clothes hamper, and before long they are in the laundry and your underwear. OUCH!
According to The University Georgia the plants are native to coastal Georgia. The seeds must have come in on the wind. From what I've read and been told, it is too late to do much about it this year. This winter when we have forgotten about them, we need to spray a pre-emergent to stop next year's crop.
All we can do this year is to cut the grass really close with a bagging mower and water the good grass really well.
Warning! Once they turn from green to brown they are really deadly. Besides stopping running children in their tracks, they also get between your dog's toes and make them look like a sad hound even if they are a curly poodle.
Good luck with your stickers. We might all need waders before this is over.
