How to Control Beggar's Lice
The Desmodium plant, more commonly known as Beggar's lice, is a weed that's actually a member of the legume family. It's most commonly found in Florida and Texas, although it can also be found in other parts of the Deep South. The triangular seeds of the Desmodium plant have tiny thorn-like projections that get caught in the fur of animals and the clothing of people, thus increasing the propagation of the plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Put on gardening gloves to protect your hands from the plant and its seeds.
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Insert the blade of the shovel into the ground approximately five to six inches away from the Beggar's lice plant. Lean the shovel back lifting up most of the root of the plant, but do not completely lift the plant out of the ground.
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Use your hands to locate the large taproot of the plant and pull it out of the ground.
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Place the weed into a garbage bag or trash can for disposal.
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Apply an all-purpose herbicide to the locations of the lawn that had the Beggar's lice growing in it. The herbicide will immediately kill any remaining taproots or small plant shoots.
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Wait until spring and apply a pre-emergent herbicide to the entire yard. The pre-emergent herbicide prevents any remaining seeds from growing.
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Tips & Warnings
Mowing the area regularly with a lawn mower helps to cut down the plants before they produce seeds, which will help control the weed growth.
If the taproot of the Beggar's Lice plant remains in the ground, the plant will grow back.
Do not simply throw the discarded plants in the back part of your yard or over the fence, as they will begin to grow again and the seeds will drift back into your yard.
