Problem: Russian Thistle found and spreading.

[DrRod]

I have a 15-gallon tank that mounts on the back of an ATV and includes a hand-held spraying wand. Each year I fill it with a weak RoundUp solution and tour the property. I can spot spray poison ivy, Russian thistle, mullen, driveway grass, English ivy on the foundation, and other problem plants. It works great and allows me to go almost anywhere quickly. I attach it to the back rack with rubber bungees so its easy on and easy off.

Our new weed problem is Japanese stalk grass. It pops up anywhere there is a bare spot and has even started marching through the woods without hesitation. I wish the deer would develop a taste for it.

 

[goeduck]

Our new weed problem is Japanese stalk grass. It pops up anywhere there is a bare spot and has even started marching through the woods without hesitation. I wish the deer would develop a taste for it.

Japanese Stilt-grass?

 

[DrRod]

Oh yeah, I think stilt is correct. But I've seen stalk grass used sometimes so I always get confused.

 

[TnAndy]

Wow..first they cost Hillary the election, and now this ?

Time to bomb 'em.

 

[Jstpssng]

geoduck - ha, yes. Nothing like cycling down our country roads - particularly down south in the Palouse - round the corner and there is a four foot high - moving wall of tumble weed crossing the road. If I'm in my TJ Jeep - I'll slow down and bust thru it. On the motorcycle - not so much.

Beowulf - I've got a weed here called Milk Weed. But its NOTHING like Russian Thistle. Local deer simply LOVE the seed pods on Milk weed. In the fall they will strip any and all Milk Weed plants of all their seed pods. I have NO problems keeping Milk weed under control.

Fortunately - I've got no Russian thistle here either.

For those who are into that kind of thing; the monarch butterfly thrives on milk weed. Farmers hate it, because it spreads easily and gets into the hayfields.

 

[npalen]

Back on our Kansas farm in the late fifties, the drought was so bad that silage and hay crops would not grow. Dad filled the silo with Russian Thistle to feed the cows the following Winter.
The alfalfa hay crop was non-existent because of the drought as well as the grasshoppers that stripped what little there was. Had to spray the field with malathion--nasty smelling stuff!

The weeds in all the fields came on like gangbusters when it finally did start raining. I vividly recall following behind my Dad with a second tractor and one-way disc, had to stand up to see while driving as the sunflowers were so tall. The moldboard plows, that we normally used, would not go through the tall weeds without plugging. The bugs were trying to literally eat us alive--no bug repellent back then.

We had to walk five miles to school and it was uphill both ways. Well everything in the previous paragraphs is true. This paragraph-not so much

 

[EddieWalker]

I just looked it up and found this to be very informative.

https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/weeds/BMPs/Milk-Thistle-Control.pdf

Right off the top, they say that the King County
Noxious Weed Control Board requires private and public property
owners to eradicate milk thistle from their property (eradicate means to
eliminate a noxious weed within an area of infestation).*

Then later it says that the seeds can remain viable for 9 years!!!!

At least it looks like it's easy to kill if you keep spraying for it.

Selective herbicides that are effective on milk thistle include 2,4‐D (many products),
aminopyralid (Milestone), clopyralid (e.g. Stinger or Transline), dicamba (e.g. Vanquish or
Banvel), metsulfuron (e.g. Escort), and combination treatments of**2,4‐D and aminopyralid or
2,4‐D and clopyralid.**If livestock are present, check the label for grazing restrictions and
damage to forage plants.**If hay is to be harvested from treated areas for mulch or compost,
make sure to follow label restrictions on timing.**Aminopyralid, clopyralid,**2,4‐D, dicamba and
metsulfuron can harm certain grasses, alfalfa, clover and other legumes.**

 

[npalen]

The farmers and ranchers deal with musk thistle here in North Central Kansas. It looks similar to the milk thistle shown in the article. Same thing, perhaps?

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Sounds like a job for half a dozen Mexicans to me. Drive past the employment office at 6 am with a crummie and pick up a crew.