How do I get rid of the picker bushes?

Debra Kent
by Debra Kent
I don't know how to get rid of the picker plant weeds that have an underground root system. They're all throughout my vegetable garden and part of the lawn. They're choking the pants out and hurting my dog's paws. What can I use to get rid of them without killing the surrounding lawn and plants?

  11 answers
  • Bink Bink on Jul 02, 2017

    What are picker bushes

    • Debra Kent Debra Kent on Jul 03, 2017

      I don't know the technical name but they look like dandelions with spikes.

  • 18789607 18789607 on Jul 02, 2017

    Do you mean bramble bushes?

  • Barbara C Barbara C on Jul 02, 2017

    Sand spurs?

    • Debra Kent Debra Kent on Jul 03, 2017

      I've been looking at weed identification sites and I think it may be "bull thistle," but the ones in my yard are spreading from an underground root system.

  • Kristina Kristina on Jul 02, 2017

    I would be careful and use diesel in a sprayer just spray the top and the plant will absorb it and die it is what I use to kill all stickers, trees and plants that I don't want coming back.

  • Phy23133576 Phy23133576 on Jul 03, 2017

    Leave town at midnight

  • Mogie Mogie on Aug 16, 2023

    Not sure what you are asking about are you sure that is what it is called?

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 16, 2023

    Could you post a picture so we can see what you are seeing?

  • You will need to dig them up and get rid of the roots.

  • Betsy Betsy on Aug 18, 2023

    Hello Debra: Those things are awful :( What you can use is a weed killer. If you pick the pickers (the best way is to go right to the stem where it comes out of the ground, no picky stuff there!) and they break off, you can pour, or inject the weed killer right into the core that's still on the ground. It may take some time, but this works for me. Good luck and poor puppies :(

  • Dee Dee on Aug 18, 2023

    Cut back the branches systematically, working your way from the top to the base. Dispose of the trimmed branches on a tarp or in trash bags. Once you've pruned the pricker bush, use a pruning saw or a shovel to dig around the root system. Loosen the soil and gently pry the bush from the ground. Dig out the roots but Before removing the prinker bushes, and spiky plants you should put on a long-sleeve shirt and long pants made of thick materials to avoid your skin being ripped up.

    You also wear heavy-duty work gloves and boots to protect yourself from being pricked by thorns, and prickly plants.

    Start pulling up the bush by pushing the shovel under the bush’s root system. With the spade, you might need to cut through more difficult roots. If the roots are too deep in the earth, you can pull them up with a shovel.

    Pry until you can remove the entire bush from the ground. Pricker bushes cannot grow in loose, dry soil. So you should add bare dirt to the bush hole, which will make the bushes die off in 1 to 2 weeks.