Getting rid of spikey ball weeds

Question

There is a weed in my backyard that generates little brown balls with spikes on them. The balls are probably less than 1cm in diameter. See picture.

Here are my questions:
1) What is the name of it?

2) How do I get rid of it?
{What are the recommended sprays or chemicals?}

3) Need sprays that are not harmful to dogs or cats.

The little balls are getting into the fur of dogs (including their paws) and the plush toys.

FYI: This plant is growing in: U.S.A, Southern California in the foothills of the Santa Ana mountain range (south Orange County).

Answer 1

It is burr-clover, in lawns you can control it with weed killing fertilizer (the kind I buy is OK for pets 24 hours after application). I mostly control it by hand removal, you have to make sure you get the whole root so moistening the ground helps

Answer 2

Check out Goathead, Tribulus terrestris in this PDF distributed by the University of Arizona. I think it fits, check against the photos in the pdf.

Control will be difficult since it is persistent and easily spread. It spreads by seed, so the key is to prevent it from going to seed and avoiding bringing seed into your yard. You can mechanically hoe off seedlings (learn to identify the plant at early seedling stage) and let them fry in the sun, or spot treat with a product per the advice from your friendly garden store who will be up to date with what you can legally use in your region. The spiky fruits attach easily to boot soles and car tires, so checking "visitors" at the gate does no harm.

Edit: also see previous question here.

Answer 3

It is bindi. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soliva_sessilis Primary control is removal of plants before the seedheads mature and drop off plant. Lawnmowing spreads the seeds. Chemical control is difficult as killing the plants leaves viable seeds to start new plants.

Answer 4

From your photo, it seems that the balls have spikes, not burrs. However, the leaves do look more clover-like than goats head leaves, which make it appear to be burr clover.

The determining test is: When the balls get larger, are they actual spikes that are capable of piercing your tennis shoe and are resistant to being removed?, .. or do they simply have a fuzzy, Velcro-like exterior that just grabs onto your socks?

If they can stick into your shoe or can puncture a bicycle tire, then it is definitely tribulus terrestris, also known as “goats head” and “puncture vine”.

If you want to know about this very serious weed, just look it up by the names I’ve given you above.

I started using glyphosate to control weeds in my yard about 10 years ago. I finally wised up and now just pull the worst weeds by hand, as much as I hate pulling weeds.