5 tips to make bindii a prickly problem of the past

Nothing says an Australian childhood like the sting of bindii in bare feet. They’re as ubiquitous to Australian lifestyle as backyard cricket, which is odd considering they’re native to South America. So with the countdown to summer underway, it time to get those prickly little pests under control before they rear their ugly (and spikey) heads. Remember, once they start to flower, it’s too late and you’ll be doomed to a summer of hopping and screaming or keeping your feet in hot stinky shoes!   Yard care company Fiskars has produced five tips to controlling/protecting and eliminating bindii's from the lawn, so we can all look forward to a proper Aussie summer – without shoes. [Tweet "Spring is the perfect time of year to get in and get rid of those bindii"] before they germinate and spread the love all over your lawn. So whatever method you use, try to get them when they are still green.  

1. No method works better than pulling the bindii weed out yourself. It’s also eco-friendly and safe for children and pets and is far more affordable then buying herbicides. The Fiskars Weed Puller can make this job easier as it grabs the weed and root system and removes the whole plant. It also features a handy ejection mechanism so you don't have to get your hands dirty or break your back.

  [caption id="attachment_2588" align="alignleft" width="690"] Image courtesy of Fiskars[/caption]  

2. Although not always possible, the best treatment is prevention, and the best way to do this is to ensure the grass isn't cut too short. Grass can starve the bindii weeds out. If your mower is set to cut too low, then the weed will capitalise on the opportunity to invade any hint of bare earth.

 

3. Bindii also loves setting-up home in compact ground, so try aerating the ground to keep them at bay. There are many tools on the market that can help with this from the garden fork right through to the bigger petrol-powered coring machines that can be hired from your local hire store.

  [caption id="attachment_2589" align="alignleft" width="690"] Image courtesy of Fiskars[/caption]  

4. Herbicides may seem like a quick and easy fix if your lawn is infested with the weed. But using them may not only kill the weed, but also the surrounding grass, leaving bare ground. This creates ideal conditions for either more bindii or some other weed species to invade.

 

5. Herbicides will also kill the green plant on top but not necessarily the root system. Be mindful if you’re considering using any type of chemical if you have children or pets as they can be very harmful if ingested.