Cobblers Peg (Bidens pilosa).
Cobblers Peg aka Beggars Tick or Farmers Friend is a short lived annual that has upright stems and grows up to 1.8 m tall.
After you read this, you will be able to:
- Identify the Cobblers Peg, Beggars Tick or Farmers Friend.
- Know the habitat of the Farmers Friend or Beggars Tick and
- Know the best cultural and chemical options to control Farmers Friend or Cobblers Peg.
Why is Cobblers Peg a Problem Weed?
Beggars Tick is a very invasive weed and there are several reasons for this.
- Cobblers Peg is a big seed producer. One plant is able to produce over 30,000 viable seeds.
- These seeds can remain dormant for many years.
- It is highly invasive, and spreads quickly.
- Cobblers Peg seeds disperse easily and
- Farmers Friend is able to grow in a wide range of habitats.
- It forms dense stands that outcompete existing vegetation.
- Some populations have developed herbicide resistance.
Cobblers Peg is an Environmental weed in NSW and QLD.
The distribution map is courtesy of The Atlas of Living Australia.
How to Identify Cobblers Pegs.
Heavy frosts, kill the above ground parts of plants but they can quickly grow back from the roots. It is able to withstand temperatures down to –15°C.
Category: Farmers Friend is a broadleaf (Dicot) weed.
Photosynthetic Pathway: Beggars Tick is a C3 Weed.
Flower: Cobblers Peg flowers all year round. Its small flower-heads are 5 to 15 mm across, and have multiple tiny yellow tubular flowers in the centre. Sometimes it has white petals that are 2 to 8 mm long.
Height: Farmers Friend is up to 1.8m high, but usually 20 to 90 cm tall. It doesn’t tend to produce its distinctive seed heads until it is at least 1 m tall.
Leaf length: The toothed leaves of Cobblers Peg are 2.5 to 13.5 cm long.
Reproduction of Cobblers Peg.
Farmers Friend reproduces only by seed and has an optimum germination of 20 to 35 C. The seeds also require access to light to establish and it doesn’t grow well in shade.
The seeds survive up to 5 years, but once they germinate, Cobblers Peg produces viable seeds in under a year.
These seeds have hooked bristles which attach to clothes and animals. They also disperse by vehicles, water, and in agricultural produce.
Comments: Farmers Friend has a strong tap root.
Habitat: Cobblers Pegs is a weed of gardens, parks, roadsides, and waste areas.
Farmers Friend is a good soil indicator weed of disturbed soils. For more information check out our weed ID Chart.
How to Control Cobblers Peg in your lawn.
You can control Cobblers Peg by cultural and chemical means.
Cultural Control of Cobblers Pegs.
- Hand weeding and mowing will help to control this weed but is best done before it flowers.
- If you hand weed avoid spreading the seed and bag the seed heads off. Seed life is short
- Cobblers Peg does not compete well in the shade, so maintain a healthy dense turf. This means mow at the right height for the turf type present.
- Hygiene is also important. If you or machinery moves into areas where Farmers Friend is present, a good habit to get into is too wash down machinery.
- Make sure that Cobblers Peg seeds are not carried on clothes between infested and ‘clean’ areas.
Weed Managment Calendar Cobblers Pegs.
Management Calendar for Cobblers Peg | ||||||||||||
Annual but can be perennial in warm climates | ||||||||||||
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
Germination | ||||||||||||
Active Growth | ||||||||||||
Flowering | ||||||||||||
Seeding | ||||||||||||
Dormant | ||||||||||||
Manual Removal | ||||||||||||
Pre emergent Herbicide | ||||||||||||
Post emergent Herbicide | ||||||||||||
Chemical Control of Cobblers Peg.
Pre-Emergent Control of Cobblers Pegs.
- In agriculture, Pendimethalin (ProForce Battalia 435 Herbicide) is registered to control Cobblers Pegs.
- In New Zealand, Esplanade Herbicide is registered for the control of Cobblers Pegs.
Post Emergent Herbicides for Cobblers Pegs.
In Australia, there are several selective post emergent options to manage this weed in turf.
- Quali-Pro Nutmeg (Bentazone).
- Quali-Pro Negate (Rimsulfuron, and Metsulfuron-methyl). Only use this on warm season turf.
- 2,4-D (amine) and
- Dicamba all control this Cobblers Pegs.
- Campbells Stature (MCPA, Bromoxynil and Diflufenican) suppresses it. This cannot be used on the home garden.
Post Emergent Herbicide Rates for Cobblers Peg.
Product | Active | Chemical Group | Rate/Ha | Comments | ||||
2,4-D | 2,4-D | 4 | 1.8-3.2 | Wet foliage thoroughly. DO NOT mow lawn for 1 week before and at least 1 weed after application. DO NOT use on Buffalo grass (WA only). | ||||
Contra M. | Dicamba + MCPA | 4 | 6.5 L | Apply in 250-400L water. DO NOT use on Buffalo grass. After use do not mow for 2 days before or after application or fertilize within two weeks. | ||||
Dicamba | Dicamba | 4 | 1.2L + 3.2L of 2,4-D Amine 625g/L | Use a minimum of 1000L/Ha water. Do not spray on Buffalo or Bent Grass. | ||||
Stature | MCPA + Bromoxynil + Diflufenican | 4 + 6 + 12 | 2L | Apply to actively growing weeds. Complete control may take 4 to 6 weeks. A repeat application maybe needed in 4 – 6 weeks. Use a surfactant for difficult to wet weeds. Apply in 200 to 500 L of water. Transient discolouration may occur up to 21 days following application. | ||||
Negate. | Rimsulfuron + Metsulfuron-methyl | 2 | 110g | Apply to growing weeds and not to stressed weeds. | ||||
Nutmeg | Bentazone | 6 | 2 to 3 L/ha in 200 to 500 L of water per Ha | For best results, target applications to small and actively growing weeds, with good soil moisture. Sequential applications may be necessary. Do not exceed two applications within 4 weeks. The addition of a non-ionic surfactant such as Optispread 1000 at 125 mL per 100 L of the spray volume may improve weed control. | ||||
Warhead | MCPA + Clopyralid + Diflufenican | 4 + 12 | 5 L | You may see discolouration on kikuyu, carpet grass and Queensland blue. Avoid overlapping. Use an NIS. | ||||
Non Selective Cobblers Peg Herbicides.
You cannot use any of these on lawns or turf areas to selectively remove Bindii.
- Glufosinate-ammonium provides control for 4 to 6 weeks, but it regrows and recovers due to the limited movement of glufosinate.
- Glyphosate. You can use Glyphosate but if water quality is an issue then use ProForce Manta Ray.
These are non-selective but also have a long term residual and stop any re-growth of Cobblers Peg or Farmers Friend.
- Renegade. Renegade stops germination of Beggars Tick for up to 12 months. This reduces the need for multiple herbicide applications.
- Numchuk Quad. This gives up to 12 months pre and post emergent control.
- Cortex Duo. Cortex Duo gives a rapid knockdown of Cobblers Tick, and residual control for up to 3 months. It is also safe to use around trees.
Table of Non Selective Cobblers Peg Herbicides.
Product | Active | Chemical Group | Rate/Ha |
Glufosinate 200 | Glufosinate-ammonium | 10 | 1-6L |
Rapid Fire 800 | Glyphosate | 9 | 0.9-1.35 Kg |
Numchuk Quad | Terbuthylazine + Glyphosate + Amitrole Oxyfluorfen | 5 + 9 + 34 + 14 | 20-25L |
Cortex Duo | Nonanoic Acid + Oxyfluorfen | 14 | 7L/1000L |
Renegade | Bromacil | 5 | 3.5-6.5Kg |
