Quick Start Guide
Set up your THORNADO
In short: THORNADO sets up in minutes. Screw the three handle sections together, slide a green mesh sleeve over the foam roller, and roll over affected ground. When you are done, peel the sleeve back over itself from the bottom up: the collected thorns stay trapped inside the mesh, and the sleeve goes in the trash.
Download the instruction manual (PDF)
Assemble
Screw the three handle sections together.
Tighten until secure. Do not over-tighten.
Roll
Slide a green mesh sleeve onto the roller and roll over affected ground.
Use steady, overlapping passes for best results.
Peel & Toss
Peel the mesh sleeve back over itself from the bottom up, trapping the thorns inside.
Dispose of the used mesh sleeve in the trash.
Less kneeling. Less swearing.
How the sleeve works
The green mesh sleeve slips over the reusable foam roller. As you roll, burs pass through the mesh and lodge in the foam underneath, held in place by the netting. To empty it, you never pick thorns off one by one: peel the sleeve back over itself, inside out, the way you would pull off a sock. The burs end up sealed inside the used sleeve, designed so the thorns stay in the mesh and not in your hands.
The foam roller is reusable. Your kit includes 3 foam rollers and 50 mesh sleeves. When you run low, see refill sleeves.
Everything from the box, in one place
Seasonal control tips
The Goat Head Control Calendar: four phases, year-round. The digital version of your magnet.
View the control calendar
Refill information
How refill sleeves work and how to get more when you run low.
Get refill sleeves
Full bonus guide
The complete goat head playbook: strategy, timing, mistakes to avoid.
Read the full guide
Product support
A question, a problem with your kit, or feedback: we answer.
Contact support
Setup FAQ
How do I remove the mesh sleeve?
Grab the sleeve at the bottom edge and peel it back over itself, inside out, from the bottom up. The collected burs stay trapped inside. Toss the used sleeve in the trash.
Do I need a new sleeve every time?
Use a sleeve until it is loaded with burs, then dispose of it. Light sessions can share one sleeve; heavy ground may use more than one per session.
Can I compost the collected burs?
No. Goat head seeds can remain viable in soil for years. Bag them and put them in the trash, never the compost.
The handle feels loose. What should I check?
Unscrew and re-seat each of the three sections, then tighten until secure by hand. Do not use tools and do not over-tighten.