Question
What Are Sticker Bushes (Or Sticker Weeds)? Do They Have A Purpose? If You Dont Answer This Ill Totally Understand. Thank You For Your Time.

Answer
Pesky 'Stickers' come from an Annual grassy Weed called the Sandbur.

Ever read Texas Monthly Magazine?  Their columnist Mimi Swartz authored a whole column on Sandburs and their Sticker seeds: 'Herbicides can be used to keep the seeds from germinating, but the best ways to get rid of Sandbur are (a) mow and water your Bermudagrass frequently, or (b) plant St. Augustine Grass, which shades and crowds out Sandbur, or (c) pull the Sandbur out.'

You can read the whole thing on the Internet:

www.texasmonthly.com/ranch/readme/index.php

Mimi Swartz notes that a researcher at Texas A&M University 'confessed that it took him three years to get his yard Sticker-free' pulling them out by hand.  She adds, 'But it worked.'

A Texas A&M specialist has posted a whole cheat sheet on this problem, 'Controlling Field Sandbur in Turfgrass':

aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/grassbur.html

He uses MSMA (or DSMA on St Augustine or Centipede Lawns, which will be killed by MSMA), two deadly chemicals, as pre-emergents.  Others on the list: Pendimethalin, Benefin, and Oryzalin.  But he doesn't mention that Oryzalin is a known cause of Cancer and caused changes in blood forming tissues in one study.  It is used by breeders to alter normal mitosis in rapidly dividing Lily cells to turn a diploid Lily into a Tetraploid -- although this is just a side 'benefit' that hobbyists discovered by accident with this herbicide.  Or that Benefin caused Liver damaged in dogs that were exposed to it.  And Pendimethalin?  Well, Cornell University says this weedkiller 'is ranked more hazardous than most chemicals in two out of four ranking systems, and is ranked as ONE OF THE MOST HAZARDOUS COMPOUNDS (in the worst ten percent) to ecosystems and health'.

But the Texas A&M scientists ALSO points out that Organic controls are the better way to live:  'A dense stand of healthy Grass provides the best Weed control.  Because most Weeds are opportunists that invade weakened Lawns, the fight against Weeds starts with good management.  All cultural practices such as mowing, fertilizing and watering should be done in a manner and time that will favor the Grass rather than the Weeds.  Height of mowing influences competition against Weeds such as Crabgrass -- the higher the cut, the lower the infestation.  Frequent light sprinkling encourages shallow-rooted Weeds and seed germination.  Less frequent deep-soak watering that maintains a dry surface layer provides the Grass with a competitive advantage.'

If you live in Texas and you have a 'Stickers Situation', you have lots of good company.  It's one of those prices of living in Texas.  Here in NY, we have our problems too.  Who knows when some guy will come along and blow up the Brooklyn Bridge?  Thanks for writing.  Very nice to meet you.