Puncture vine is sharp enough to make grown men scream and dogs howl.

A: The yellow flowers are very nice and the leaves are a healthy green. The offensive part of this plant is the seedpod. They are sharp enough to make grown men scream, dogs howl and puncture your bicycle tire. It is called puncture vine, goathead, or bullhead. Its botanical name is Tribulus terrestris and it is native to Europe. It is one of the most obnoxious weeds in Arizona. We are at the end of the flowering season although it can still be seen around. The seeds are viable for a long time and they will wait until there is sufficient moisture to germinate. You can pull them when you see them or spray them with an herbicide but don’t expect to eradicate them. They will be back.

Q: I am interested in growing a fig tree. Is this a good time to plant?

A: Yes, fall and early spring are great times to plant fig trees. There are two varieties to do best in the low desert. They are the brown turkey fig and the black mission fig. The brown turkey figs are great if you like fresh figs. The black mission figs preserve better so you can make your choice or plant both. If you need more information check University of Arizona publication AZ1636 available through your favorite search engine.

Q: I would like to apply some manure to my garden but I am not sure what kind is best.

A: Animal manures are great sources of nitrogen and phosphorus but the composition is variable depending on the animal species, quality of feed, moisture content, and methods of handling and storage. In general, it contains much lower levels of nutrients than commercial fertilizers. Most application rates are based on the amount of nitrogen required for growing plants. So in order of nitrogen, chicken manure has the most followed by sheep, cow, horse, and hogs For more information on using ma University of Arizona publication AZ1590 .