Tribulus terrestris, commonly known as puncturevine, is native to Europe and Asia. Other names include goathead, bullhead and Mexican sandbur. The plant is classified as a weed and its thorny seeds will puncture the skin when touched or even puncture a bicycle tire, thus the name puncturevine. The vine grows quickly and will travel up to 5 feet into a low growing, mat forming plant. Seeds form and drop off the plant and it quickly spreads. The plant produces a tiny yellow flower in the spring.
Instructions
1. Dig a bed for the plants 6 inches deep in an area that gets full sun and does not have pooling water after a hard rain. Remove all lawn grass and weeds from the soil. Rake the soil out level.
2. Place tribulus terrestris seeds 1 inch under the soil and 5 inches apart in the spring when all threat of frost is over. Water the bed thoroughly.
3. Keep the soil moist throughout the germination period and cut back to watering twice a week once you start to see growth. Flowering will begin about three weeks after germination.
4. Spread a 3-inch layer of shredded bark mulch around the plant as soon as it starts to grow. This will help to keep the soil moist but also help you to control the seeds. These plants can produce 500 to 2000 seeds per year and they will be the source of growth the following season.
5. Snip off flowers before they produce seed to keep the plant from spreading. Rake up and collect seeds that have been produced and fallen to the ground. Since the plant is an annual, it will die during freezing temperatures. If you want it to come back the following year, bury a few of the seeds.
Tags: soil moist