Question
Our lawn is over run by sandspurs.  We have tried
different weed killers but can't get rid of them,
how can we put an end to them. We have pets in the yard so some chemicals are unacceptable.

Answer
Hi Karen,

The name 'sandspurs' is a common name for a plant in your locale.
 The weedy plant is not well identified here and the National Plants Database also has no technical identity for it to give you a best answer. You may mean 'SANDBUR'.  This is a more common name for certain weedy plants of the genus CENCHRUS of which the database has eight named species and also images; you may visit this web-page at
http://plants.usda.gov/index.html

Another plant of the genus Pennisetum is sometimes called 'cow sandbur'.

These plants have stickers and can be a nuisance in lawns and can even puncture bicycle tires.
They certainly make running bare-foot a hazard.

Cenchrus is a grassy-type weed.  Another common plant that causes sticker problems is 'Puncture vine'. This is of the genus Tribulus.  Tribulus is not a grassy-type weed; it lays flat on the ground an sends-out vine like short branches with the hard stickers forming from yellow flowers. The plants data base (URL above) has images of all of these nuisance weeds.  Use the scientific name in web-searches to get the best information about the weed and herbicides that work on it.

Chemicals that target grassy-type weeds sold at the lawn and garden center may list CENCHRUS on the label. Chemicals containing arsenic salts are to be avoided if there are pets around.

If you can keep the weedy plant at low numbers in any manner that avoids chemicals and then prevent any future plants from producing flowers and seeds you can eradicate them totally without using chemicals.  There are some 'organic herbicides' on the market these days that may work.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES:  http://www.biconet.com/lawn.html

Please visit my weed eradication articles web-pages for more about safe and organic weed control (links below).

Use a pre-emergent chemical on your lawn in mid-winter and again in early spring to prevent any that may try to sprout from over-wintering seeds in the soil.
Certain 'Weed-and-Feed' formulas will have these preventive chemicals in them. Your lawn and garden center salesman should be able to help you with what is locally available in your stores. People do not think about fighting weeds in the early-mid winter months,...but using the pre-emergents at that time is the most efficient way to eradicate many weeds just waiting for warm weather to sprout.

The pre-emergent chemicals are generally very safe around the house and garden. All of the post-emergent chemicals for grassy-type weeds should be use with knowledge and caution.
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I Hope this has answered your question(s)!
Have a fantastic Summer!

Visit my Lawn & Gardens webpage for more Tips, Facts and Links:
http://hometown.aol.com/eilatlog/lawnol.html

For weed problems:
http://hometown.aol.com/eilatlog/weeds/weed-articles_html

Your Questions and Comments are welcome at ALLEXPERTS.com
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