Roll. Collect. Dispose.
Goat Head Control Calendar
A simple year-round prevention and collection system. This is the digital version of the magnet on your fridge.
In short: goat head control is a four-phase cycle: scout early in spring, remove young plants before they flower, collect dropped burs in late summer and fall, and keep pressure on regrowth into winter. Timing varies by climate and region. Consistent action, season after season, helps prevent new seeds from entering the soil seed bank.
- SpringScout early
- SummerRemove young plants
- Late summer to fallCollect burs
- Fall to winterPrevent return
Phase 1
Scout early
Typically spring. Find it before it spreads.
- Walk or scan your yard for new growth.
- Look for small plants before they flower.
- Act early for best results: young sprouts are easier to remove.
Mar to May*
Phase 2
Remove young plants
Typically late spring to summer. Stop it before it flowers.
- Pull plants by hand, getting as much of the root as possible. Wear gloves.
- Avoid mowing: mowing spreads seeds and burs.
- Remove before flowers set and seeds develop.
May to Jul*
Phase 3
Burr collection
Typically late summer to fall. Collect before they spread.
- As burs mature, they detach and fall to the ground.
- Use the THORNADO roller to collect mature goat head burs from affected ground.
- Help prevent new seeds from entering the soil seed bank.
Jul to Sep*
Phase 4
Prevent return
Typically fall to winter. Stay ahead all year.
- Check your yard for new growth or missed areas.
- Keep pressure on small outbreaks.
- Plan ahead for the next season.
Sep to Nov*
*Timing varies by climate and region. Use these phases as a guide for your area.
Your progress tracker
Check off each phase as you complete it. Your progress is saved on this device.
Know your enemy
Goat head, puncturevine and caltrop are the same plant: Tribulus terrestris. It moves through three stages, and each one calls for a different response.
Sprout
Early growth. Low-profile leaves in bare soil, gravel, paths and fence lines. Remove easily before it spreads.
Flower
Small yellow blooms appear. Flowers turn into seed pods, the burs, after pollination. This is the last easy moment to pull the plant.
Bur
The mature spiny bur. It detaches, spreads, and its seeds can remain viable in soil for years. This is what THORNADO is designed to collect.
The key to control: help prevent new seeds from entering the soil seed bank. One missed season can reseed the area. Consistent action, season after season.
Honest note: THORNADO collects burs from the ground surface. It does not kill the plant. That is exactly why the calendar matters: removal in spring, collection in fall, repeat.