Please can you help me identify this weed and how to get rid of it

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew what this weed was called??




And has anyone got any idea the best way to get rid of it, My lawn at the moment is full of weeds but this one has spikes which hurt a lot. Even my dog jumps when he stands on one! So your advice on getting rid of them permanently would be appreciated. And if you have any advice how to get rid of the rest of the weeds in my garden that would also be appreciated haha. thanks Dean

 

Looks like http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirsium_arvense

 

thank you for your replies whats the best way in your opinions to get rid of the thistles?

 

Even then it often needs more than one treatment.
Nasty spines on them, they get into your fingers and because they are soft they are very hard to 'dig out' unlike say a wooden splinter.

 

I have a long trowel that I use for this. First ensure the soil surrounding it is moist (so less likely for the root to snap off I feel...could be wrong). I plunge the trowel deep in (sometimes using a hammer on the end of the handle to get right down) and dig out their root (obviously using gardening gloves to grasp the plant's base)...dislike weedkillers.

 

thank you for all your advice its been very helpful

 

This sounds interesting @JWK. Will this method work on what I know as field thistle? They have roots which go down to Australia and are relatively abundant in the fields around here and consequently in my garden!

 

How about a combination of hot water then sprinkling salt on it?

 

My MOther in law uses this method on thistles in her path......I might like to use it on her sometimes .....I only said sometimes!
Joking a side I have a piece of equipment for digging them out, there's nothing more satisfying than getting the little swines root right out!

 

I have found the best method is a pair of thick gloves and dig them out.