Nothing ruins an outdoor adventure faster than stepping on goat heads / sticker burrs or spending hours removing sticker burrs from your pet’s fur. These prickly invaders are more than a nuisance—they can damage your gear, harm your pets, and even ruin your lawn.
If you’re tired of battling these pesky plants, you’re not alone. This guide will help you understand what sticker burrs and goat heads are, why they’re such a problem, and—most importantly—how to eliminate them so you can get back to enjoying the great outdoors.
What Are Sticker Burrs and Goat Heads?
Sticker burrs and goat heads, also known as puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris), are invasive plants that thrive in dry, sunny environments. Their seeds are covered with sharp spines, designed to latch onto anything that brushes against them. Unfortunately, this survival mechanism makes them a nightmare for hikers, pet owners, and cyclists.
- Sticker Burrs: These spiny seeds attach to clothing, pet fur, and even skin. They’re difficult to remove and can cause irritation or injury.
- Goat Heads: Resembling tiny goat skulls, these seeds are infamous for puncturing bike tires and footwear. They’re hard, sharp, and seemingly indestructible.
Where Do They Come From?
Sticker burrs and goat heads are most common in arid and semi-arid climates but can grow just about anywhere with poor soil and lots of sunlight. They spread easily through human activity, animal movement, and even the wind, making them a widespread issue across North America.
Why Are Sticker Burrs and Goat Heads Such a Problem?
- Painful to Step On: One wrong step, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped on a bed of nails.
- Damage to Gear: These spiny seeds tear through fabric, puncture tires, and scratch hard surfaces.
- Harm to Pets: Sticker burrs can burrow into your pet’s paws or fur, causing pain and even infections.
- Lawn Takeover: Left unchecked, sticker burrs and goat heads can overrun your yard, making it unusable.
High-Performing Keywords to Note
Before we dive into solutions, here are some top keywords and phrases that will help this blog perform well in search rankings:
- Lawn care tips
- How to remove sticker burrs
- Goat head removal tools
- Best yard maintenance practices
- Pet-safe lawn care solutions
- Preventing invasive weeds
- DIY garden weed control
How to Stop Sticker Burrs and Goat Heads in Their Tracks
The good news is you can fight back against these troublesome plants. Here’s how:
1. Prevention is Key
The best way to deal with sticker burrs and goat heads is to prevent them from growing in the first place.
- Maintain a Healthy Lawn: Dense, healthy grass crowds out invasive weeds, leaving no room for goat heads to grow.
- Regular Mowing: Keep your lawn trimmed to prevent weeds from going to seed.
- Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides: In early spring, use a pre-emergent herbicide to stop sticker burr seeds from sprouting.
2. Identify and Remove Existing Plants
Once goat heads and sticker burrs take root, removal is essential.
- Pull Them by Hand: Use gloves to pull plants out by the root. Dispose of them carefully to prevent reseeding.
- Use a Weed Removal Tool: Tools like a hoe or weed puller can make the job faster and more efficient.
- Kill Seeds with Heat: A propane torch or solarization (covering the area with clear plastic) can destroy seeds in the soil.
3. Use the Sticker Burr Roller
The Sticker Burr Roller is a game-changing tool designed to quickly and efficiently remove sticker burrs and goat heads from lawns, driveways, and other surfaces.
Why it works:
- Durable Design: Built to last, the roller is effective on tough terrain.
- Easy to Use: Simply roll it over affected areas to pick up burrs and seeds.
- Eco-Friendly: No need for harmful chemicals—this is a safe, green solution for your yard.
4. Protect Your Pets and Gear
Once your lawn is clear, take steps to prevent sticker burrs from ruining your outdoor adventures.
- Protective Pet Boots: These keep burrs out of your dog’s paws.
- Tire Liners for Bikes: Invest in puncture-resistant liners to avoid flat tires.
- Outdoor Gear Maintenance: Brush off shoes and equipment before heading indoors to avoid spreading seeds.
Why the Sticker Burr Roller is a Must-Have
The Sticker Burr Roller isn’t just a tool—it’s a solution. Whether you’re clearing a campsite, prepping your yard for guests, or tackling a thorn-covered driveway, this roller is your go-to weapon against sticker burrs and goat heads.
Customer Testimonials:
- “I cleared my entire backyard in less than an hour!”
- “The Sticker Burr Roller saved my camping trip. No more thorns in my tent!”
- “Worth every penny—my lawn is finally safe for my kids and pets.”
Additional FAQ for Tackling Sticker Burrs and Goat Heads
1. What is the Sticker Burr Roller?
The Sticker Burr Roller is a highly effective tool designed to remove sticker burrs, goat heads, and other prickly nuisances from your yard, gear, and pet fur quickly and easily. It's the ultimate solution to take the frustration out of burr removal.
2. What types of burrs does it pick up?
The Sticker Burr Roller works on most types of burrs, including Burr Clover, Sand Burrs, Grass Burrs, and Puncturevine (Goat Heads). Each burr removed prevents up to 500 new plants from growing in the next season!
3. How does the Sticker Burr Roller work?
As you roll the device, its conveyor screen lifts burrs from the surface and deposits them into a catch tray. This ensures quick, effortless cleanup.
4. What’s the best technique for burr removal?
For best results:
Lightly rake the area first to bring buried burrs to the surface.
Roll over the affected area multiple times for thorough removal.
For terrain with heavy vegetation, you can use our pitchfork attachment to remove burr-covered plants before rolling.
Adding ankle weights to the roller can also help with harder soils or thick foliage.
5. Can it pick up burrs still attached to plants?
While the Roller is designed to pick up loose burrs, we recommend removing plants with green, non-ripe burrs using our pitchfork attachment first. This combination ensures complete removal.
6. Does the Sticker Burr Roller work on rocks or gravel?
The Roller can remove burrs on the surface of rocks or gravel but is less effective for burrs buried between or beneath them.
7. Why is the Residential Push Model lightweight?
At just 10 pounds, the Residential Push Model prevents sinking into sandy soil. For added weight on tougher terrain, you can attach up to 10 pounds of ankle weights to each side of the Roller for increased pressure.
8. What sizes are available?
We offer multiple sizes to suit your needs:
Residential Push Model 2.0 (18 inches wide) for yards and gardens.
Pull-Behind Model (4 feet wide) for larger areas, towable with a hitch.
9. How often do I need to replace the conveyor screen and foam roller?
With normal residential use, the conveyor screen and foam roller sleeve should last about a year. Avoid damage by storing indoors and keeping them away from sharp objects and direct sunlight.
10. Is the handle adjustable?
The Roller does not have a fixed angle, making it adaptable for users of different heights—from children to individuals over 6 feet tall. Taller users operate it at a lower angle, while shorter users hold it at a steeper slant.
11. Does it come fully assembled?
Your Sticker Burr Roller comes mostly assembled with a foam roller, catch basket, and glider screen. Some simple assembly is required, and easy-to-follow instructions are included.
12. How do I find the status of my order?
You’ll receive a FedEx tracking number once your order ships from our Utah warehouse. For additional updates, feel free to reach out directly—we’re happy to assist.
13. What varieties of burrs will the Sticker Burr Roller pick up?
The Sticker Burr Roller is very effective at picking up most anything with a slight burr. The specific varieties that have pulled in the most positive reviews are: Burr Clover, Sand Burrs, Grass Burrs, and the infamous Puncturevine (Goat Head) - the burr that was the driving force behind the amazing Sticker Burr Roller Push Model invention. We understand that every burr/seed picked up can prevent up to 500 new plants in seasons to come.
We also have an amazing tool that is designed to clip on to most any Pitchfork, making it easy to get under and remove the plants. When you combine this tool with our Roller, you have a complete burr removal solution.
14. How often would you recommend replacing the Conveyor Screen and the Sleeved Foam Roller?
With typical residential use, your Conveyor Screen and Sleeved Foam Roller should last around a year. Please be aware that they can both be damaged by rolling over sharp objects or if stored out in the direct, hot sun and weather.
15. Why is the Residential Push Model so light weight?
The Residential Push Model was intentionally designed to be 10 pounds, due to its propensity to sink in sandy soil. We realize there is some terrain, like hard soil or heavy foliage, that requires more weight/pressure. This can easily be accomplished by strapping workout ankle weights to the side bars of the Roller. It can handle up to 10 pounds per side. There are workout ankle weights with individual 1 pound weights that can be added or removed from the ankle weight strap to create the perfect amount of pressure for your specific situation.
16. How wide is the Roller?
The Sticker Burr Roller Residential 1.0 Push Model is the first of many models to be released. It was specifically designed to be the perfect width (12 inches) for residential garden areas. In 2024 we released the 2.0 Push Model, and is designed for more coverage areas, with a width of 18 inches. We also have a 4 foot wide Pull Behind Model that is designed to be attached by tow bar to anything with a hitch. It can be utilized as a stand alone unit, or teamed up with other units to create a wider or longer burr removal path.
17. Is the handle adjustable?
Height is not an issue. We have gentlemen from 6 foot 4 inches tall to a child 3 feet tall running the Sticker Burr Roller. From a functionality standpoint, the Sticker Burr Roller does not have a set angle. As a result a shorter person would simply use it on more of a slant than a taller person would. The angle it is operated at is based on the height of the user.
18. Do the burrs get picked up while still on the plant?
We highly recommend plant removal with the green/non-ripe burrs, prior to Rolling for the remaining burrs. We have a tool that easily clips on to most any Pitchfork, making it easy to get under and remove the plant. The two techniques combined, create a complete burr removal solution.
19. How does it deposit the stickers into the tray?
The Sticker Burr Roller has a conveyor screen that rolls forward and meets a catching tray, dropping the stickers into the tray as it rolls back around. The parts that will eventually require replacement are the conveyor screen and the foam roller with sleeve.
20. Full Burr Removal Description/ What’s the best technique for burr removal?
We have found that lightly raking the burr area brings covered burrs to the surface. On highly infested areas, and where the burrs have heavy vegetation, it can take several pass overs, along with re-raking the area, to get as many burrs as possible. In addition, we have found that some terrain does require more weighted pressure. A very effective weight solution can be accomplished by adding ankle/wrist weight bands, with up to 10 lbs of pressure each, to the cross bar or the two side handle bars.
For the heavy vegetation areas, we have just created a tool to attach to a pitch fork that cuts the plant out at the base, preventing the vegetation from covering the burrs.
Take Back Your Lawn Today!
Don’t let sticker burrs and goat heads dictate how you enjoy your outdoor spaces. With the right strategies and tools like the Sticker Burr Roller, you can reclaim your yard, protect your gear, and keep your pets safe.
Your outdoor adventures are waiting—minus the pain, flat tires, and endless frustration. Say “Not Today Satan!” to sticker burrs and goat heads, and enjoy a burr-free life starting now.
Check us out at www.StickerBurrRoller.com or on our Crowdfunding campaign today!
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