This is a summer annual with some stems bending and rooting in the lower nodes. It is frequently reddish at the base.

The seed head is a spike of spiny burs.

This plant will grow throughout the south from North Carolina, west to New Mexico.

This is not something you would want to step on or rub against.

Moreover, that is exactly where they like to grow best - in the sandy areas.

Sandspurs do not thrive in well-cultivated pastures and fields. Control is by handpicking.

I didn't have them until a couple of years ago, and then only in one area and I was able to dig them up. This year, they have SPREAD EVERYWHERE AND SO HAS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.

ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

It is always difficult to figure out what plant it is from a description (also hard from a photo), but this could be one of the sandspur or sandbur species.

There are a couple of species similar, some lower to the ground but all eventually end up with this little brown spur or burr.

If it is, The "Southern Living Garden Problem Solver" book says, "To kill established sandburs in lawns, apply imazaquin (Image) or calcium acid methanearsonate (Crabgrass Killer) according to label directions. Or spot-treat with herbicidal soap, glufosinate-ammonium (Finale), or glyphosate (Roundup)."

We don't like to recommend herbicides, but sometimes it is the only thing to do.

Hope this is helpful and thanks for writing.