
- Control in the home garden or yard is primarily mechanical, usually by digging or pulling plants. ...
- If the plant has gone to seed, one of the best control tactics is to use a broom to sweep the seeds and collect and discard them. ...
- Herbicidal control is also possible, and puncturevine plants are susceptible to 2,4-D, glyphosate, and dicamba. ...
See more

How do I get rid of Goathead thorns?
20, 2021 6:55 a.m. Goatheads, the sinister weeds with spines strong enough to puncture volleyballs and bicycle tires, can be controlled with an application of a broadleafed weedkiller (containing 2,4-D) at any time they are growing actively, but preferably earlier in the growing season than August.
Is puncture vine invasive?
In Southern California, it blooms from April through October, where it is highly invasive in waste places and disturbed sites.
Is puncture vine toxic?
All parts of the plant contain steroidal sapogenins which are toxic to horses. It can also cause physical injury and photosensitivity, due to it's sharp burrs and chemical components. It has been known to cause neurological symptoms resulting in incomplete paralysis in livestock.
Where does puncture vine come from?
History of Introduction: Puncturevine is native to Europe and Asia. The plant may have been introduced into the United States as a contaminant of sheep's wool that was imported from the Mediterranean region.
What is puncture vine used for?
Puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris L.) is a popular medicinal plant, which is considered as a traditional stimulator of masculine sexual desire.
Do goats eat puncture vine?
The stems and leaves of Puncturevine contain nitrate toxins that if enough are consumed, poisoning can result, this is especially true of sheep and goats.
Is a puncture vine the same as a goat head?
The puncturevine plant's sharp, spiky seedpods are the source of the name “goathead.” If you learn to identify puncturevine when it first germinates, it's much easier to eliminate than when plants are large and seeds mature. For small infestations, use a hoe to cut the plant off at its taproot.
Is puncture vine toxic to dogs?
Goat head weed is sometimes referred to as puncturevine, cat's head, or devil's thorn. It's an annual broadleaf that readily reseeds itself. Not only is it difficult to eradicate, but it can also poison livestock and pets.
How fast do puncture vines grow?
Seedlings develop a deep taproot within a few weeks. Flowers may be produced within 3 weeks and burs within 6 weeks of germination. (pulling, cutting, disking) Hand-pulling is feasible when the population is low, especially when soils are moist and the vines are sufficiently long to allow pulling.
How do you know if you have a puncture vine?
Puncture vine has a prostrate habit, meaning that its branches lie flat on the ground, spreading outward from a central location. It grows upward only when it is being shaded or crowded out. Its leaves are divided into several tiny leaflets, and its flowers are small and bright yellow with five petals.
How do you permanently get rid of goat heads?
Mowing your yard might help to get rid of these weeds, but only for a short time. For a permanent fix, you need to attack goat heads with a post-emergent herbicide. Burning them is effective enough to kill the plant and the seeds. Till the land to prevent the seeds from germinating in the future.
What are the bugs that eat Goatheads?
The bugs, Puncturevine Weevils, are insects that feed exclusively on Puncturevine weeds-- better known as "Goatheads" which is an invasive species of plant that has thorns.
How do Puncture vines grow?from healthbenefitstimes.com
A network of fine rootlets arises from the taproot of Puncture Vine plant to take advantage of soil moisture, by which the plant can survive in very arid conditions. Stems release from the crown to a diameter of about 10 cm to over 1 m, often branching. They are usually prostrate, forming flat patches, though they may grow more upwards in shade or among taller plants. Stems branch from the crown and are densely hairy. Leaves are opposite and pinnately compound. Densely hairy leaflets are opposite and up to 1⁄8 inch (0.0032 m) long. The flowers are 4–10 mm wide, with 5 lemon -yellow petals, 5 sepals, and 10 stamens. In Southern California, it blooms from April through October, where it is highly invasive in waste places and disturbed sites.
What is the best biological control for puncturevine?from ag.colorado.gov
The most successful biological control agents for puncturevine are Microlarinus lareynii, a seed feeding weevil, and Microlarinus lypriformis, a stem boring weevil. M. lareynii and M. lypriformis have been collected from established colonies around the state.
What is Puncturevine?from ag.colorado.gov
Puncturevine ( Tribulus terrestris) is a summer annual forb, and is native to Europe. The plant is prostrate or ascending, spreading into mat forming cover.
Does Puncture Vine extract help with urinary tract problems?from healthbenefitstimes.com
Urinary tract problems mostly take place due to the buildup of the stones in the tract. Puncture Vine extract consumption helps to eliminate the stones in the tract, through which it makes the urine flow smooth. It also stops the urinary tract bleeding and treats renal ailments incontinence and cystitis. 7.
Does Puncture Vine help with erectile dysfunction?from healthbenefitstimes.com
4. Erectile dysfunction. Puncture Vine is advantageous in erectile dysfunction as it encourages the penile tissue by which it enhances the penile erection.
How to treat stones in bladder?from healthbenefitstimes.com
If you experience pain due to stones blocking urine, take Gokshura seeds powder (6 gms) with 1 spoon honey and 1 cup of sheep’s milk every morning or night for 7 days. Paste prepared from leaves is used in treatment of stones in the bladder. The plant has shown anticancer activity.
How to get blood out of urine?from healthbenefitstimes.com
Blood in urine: Take whole plant of Gokharu. Wash to clean dirt and soil. Grind the herb to extract juice (¼ cup). Mix this juice in a cup of buttermilk and drink for ten days.
Weed Control for Puncture Vines
Puncture vine, also known as goathead, bullhead, or tackweed, is a notoriously difficult weed to deal with. If left unmitigated, it can spread across your landscape, puncturing people’s skin and stealing water from other plants or trees on your property.
How Do We Remove Puncture Vine?
When you call TNT Pest Control about your puncture vine problem, we’ll give you a free quote and get to your property as quickly as possible.
Weed Control in Albuquerque, New Mexico - TNT Pest Control
If you’re looking for weed control in New Mexico, you’ve come to the right place. For years, we’ve been helping Albuquerque deal with a variety of different pests.
When Is Professional Pest Control Necessary?
Get to know the signs that will tell you when you need professional pest control in your home. For professional pest control in New Mexico, Call Us!
Pet-Friendly Pest Control Management
Learn everything you need to know about pet-friendly pest control management and what to do with pets when a pest control expert visits.
What are the Most Common Household Pests?
The most common household pests include cockroaches, termites, rodents, ants, and bed bugs. Here's what to know and how to get rid of them effectively!
COVID-19 Response and Letter from Owner
While we all strive to bear the burden of COVID-19, we want to commit our dedication to safety, the health & well-being of our customers, and their properties.
How to manage puncture vine?
The primary method of management for puncturevine in the home landscape and garden is removal of seedlings and older plants by hand or hoeing, taking care to also remove any burrs that fall off the plant. Avoid bringing puncturevine into uninfested areas on shoes and the wheels of mowers or carts.
How long does it take for a Puncturevine to flower?
The plant may start flowering within 3 weeks of germination and flowering will continue throughout the summer. Seeds are primarily dormant in the first season, but may germinate the next spring. Seeds may remain viable in the soil for up to five years. Puncturevine plants cannot tolerate freezing temperatures.
What is a Puncturevine?
Puncturevine is a summer annual broadleaf weed that generally grows low to the ground forming dense mats 2 to 5 feet in diameter. The stems radiate out from a central point at the taproot. The plant does not root from the stems. The hairy leaves are opposite each other and divided into four to eight pairs of leaflets that are also opposite each other. Yellow flowers up to 1/2 inch wide with five petals are found in the leaf axils. After the flower is pollinated, a seedpod forms that is a cluster of five flat spiny burrs containing up to five seeds. As the seedpod matures, it turns gray or tan, gets very hard and breaks apart so that the individual spikes, or burrs, can stick into passing animals and tires. These burrs disperse by adhering to tires, shoes and clothing of people, and the fur, feathers, or feet of animals.
Where is the Puncturevine flower found?
Emergence hole of the seed weevil, Microlarinus lareynii, in a puncturevine seed capsule. Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is an aptly named summer annual found widely in California. Native to southern Europe, it can grow under a wide range of conditions, ...
What are the effects of puncturevine?
Additionally, puncturevine may contribute to nitrate poisoning in sheep and cattle. Symptoms of nitrate poisoning include labored breathing, staggering, tongue and the white of the eyes turning blue, and loss of appetite.
When does Puncturevine germinate?
Puncturevine germinates in the spring and summer from seeds produced the previous year. Good soil moisture and warm temperatures are needed for germination, but after the plant is established it can tolerate dry soils due to its rapidly produced deep taproot.
What herbicides are effective for germination?
There are few preemergent herbicides that are effective. Products containing oryzalin, benefin, or trifluralin will provide partial control of germinating seeds. These must be applied prior to germination (late winter to midspring).
How to get rid of burrs on plants?
If pulling by hands, wear heavy-duty gloves. Then discard the plants by placing them in a plastic bag and sealing it. After doing this, burrs or seeds might drop on the soil. They can be removed by sweeping the ground or patting it with a carpet to which the burrs will stick.
How to get goatheads out of pumpkins?
Roll the pumpkin over the soil and the goatheads will get stuck into its flesh. Then discard the pumpkins. To remove a plant which has already produced seeds, take care to not knock it off while pulling it out. Most importantly, keep a regular watch on the new growth of weeds.
How to get rid of goatweeds in mulch?
▸ Maintaining aeration of soil and use of competing plants is another effective way of getting rid of goatweeds.
Can weevils kill weeds?
In this way, the stems and branches are destroyed. It is best to use both the weevils at the same time to kill the weeds. However, the weevils do not survive well in winters.
How to get rid of weeds in the ground?
Summer. If you have large infestations, sweep with your propane weed burner, staying close to the ground to burn out as much of the roots as you can. Follow your burn with a weed killer that will get to the roots still living underground. Note: If you use a weed burner, you won't need to rake.
What is the best way to kill goats head weed?
Moist fall and winter weather is the perfect time to attack large patches of goat's head weeds by burning. I have had so many readers rave about using the Red Dragon VT 2-23 C Propane Vapor Torch in their yards. It makes chemicals unnecessary and is easier than the physical work involved with pulling and raking methods.
How to kill weeds on ground cover?
I have also successfully used a home remedy weed killer: Dilute 1/2 cup each of Epsom salts and vinegar in a gallon of water and spray thoroughly.) Avoid spraying any "good" ground covers, as you want them to flourish and take space away from the Evil One.
How to get rid of goats head weeds?
Pulling straight up usually snaps the plant off, leaving the roots still underground. Rake the area, removing all goat's head debris, and put it into the trash. Finally, sweep the area you cleared to pick up any thorns. Remember to always put goat's head weeds and thorns in your trash or burn them.
How to pull a syringe out of a syringe?
Carefully put a finger to each side of it and pull it straight out.
What is the name of the weevil that kills goats?
There are also commercially available weevils that kill goat's head. The weevils are called Microlarinus lareynii and Microlarinus lypriformis. Together they are known as puncture vine weevils. Microlarinus lareynii works by eating away the side of a green goat's head burr.
