Debrecen4U September 29, 2026

Puncturevine Removal Continues Across Debrecen

The Municipality of Debrecen has begun eradicating puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) from infested public areas in recent weeks. As part of the preparations for the intervention, specialists previously surveyed the areas affected by the weed, paying particular attention to green spaces located along cycle paths and pavements. Based on the results of the survey, at the beginning of September the municipality commissioned specialist contractors to carry out chemical weed control on green areas infested with puncturevine along cycle paths, covering a total area of more than 22,000 square metres.

List of infested areas:

• on Vágóhíd Street, between Zsibogó and Lion Office;
• along the cycle path on Vágóhíd Street, between Zsibogó and Sipos Street;
• at the cemetery on Budai Ézsaiás Street, along the pavements;
• on Szent Anna Street, between Kandia Street and Klaipeda Street, on both sides of the cycle path;
• on Szent Anna Street (Hajnal Street – Attila Square – Klaipeda Street);
• on Wesselényi Street, from Szent Anna Street all the way to the Wesselényi passageway, along the cycle path and pavement;
• downhill from the Homokkert flyover towards the Honda dealership, as far as the former Keletterv building, on both sides of the cycle path;
• on Sumen Street (from Szent Anna Street to Vígkedvű Mihály Street on both sides of the cycle path, and then along the pavement);
• along the cycle path on Mikepércsi Road (Ozmán Street – Somlyai Street, as well as from No. 28 Mikepércsi Road to Pöltenberg Street);
• in front of the Lidl store under construction on Mikepércsi Road;
• in the Sóház district, on Csengő Street, in the area in front of Kossuth Lajos Grammar School, on Hajnal Street and around the playground;
• on both sides of the cycle path on Hadházi Road;
• on both sides of the cycle path on Zákány Street;
• along the pavement on Doberdó Street;
• along the pavement on Kartács Street;
• along the cycle path and pavement on Böszörményi Road, between Békéssy Béla Street and the Böszörményi Road section;
• on both sides of the pavement on Bólyai Street;
• on Thomas Mann Street, around the Maltese playground and Szöcske Park, as well as along the park walkways and pavements;
• in and around the playground at the Mikepércsi housing estate;
• on Monostorpályi Road, from Mikepércsi Road to the railway crossing, on both sides of the pavement;
• at the corner of Monostorpályi Road and Wekerle Street;
• on Monostorpályi Road, from Pohl Ferenc Street to Kisdobos Street;
• on Szabó Kálmán Street;
• on Kassai Road, before the turning lane leading to the petrol station, in front of the Orlen petrol station, alongside the pavement;
• in the public green strip in front of No. 19 Damjanich Street;
• at the intersection of Laktanya Street and Rózsahegy Street;
• in the green strip and alongside the pavement between Nos. 34 and 38 Kossuth Street;
• in the area bounded by Nap Street, Baross Street and Szent Anna Street;
• on Mester Street, along the section between Böszörményi Street, Csemete Street and Bethlen Street, on and around the pavement on the tram side;
• on Hunyadi Street, between Bethlen Street and Péterfia Street;
• along the entire length of Dózsa György Road, on both sides of the road, alongside the pavement and cycle path.

Once the weed killer had taken effect, mechanical removal of the vegetation also began, both in the treated areas and along the city’s cycle paths.

During the work, methods suited to the characteristics and terrain of the affected areas were used. In areas with less dense growth, the vegetation was removed using brush cutters fitted with nylon line and grass-cutting tractors with collection systems, while manual hoeing was used in denser, harder-to-access areas. Particular attention was also paid to the complete removal of vegetation that had spread onto paved surfaces. In areas with larger concentrations of puncturevine, collecting, loading and transporting away the cut plant material was also part of the process.

Alongside the interventions, cycle paths running alongside grassed areas infested with the weed were also cleaned using both manual and mechanical methods in the following areas:

Burgundia Street, Klaipeda Street, Sumen Street, Wesselényi Street, Vágóhíd Street, Egyetem Avenue, Görgey Street – Cívis Street – Jerikó Street, Mester Street, Mikepércsi Road, Füredi Road, towards Józsa, Csigekert Street, Bartók Béla Road, Böszörményi Road, Szabó Lőrinc Street, Simonyi Road, Bólyai Street, Pallagi Road, Balmazújvárosi Road, Kishatár Road, Derék Street, Kishegyesi Road, Határ Road, Vámospércsi Road, Sámsoni Road, Diószegi Road and Monostorpályi Road.

The aim is to remove as many of the puncturevine’s spiky fruits as possible from transport surfaces, thereby reducing the inconvenience caused to cyclists and pedestrians and limiting the further spread of the prickly fruits.

The municipality will continue to treat and monitor the affected areas in the coming period, carrying out interventions tailored to the specific characteristics of each location.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu