Thistle epidemic... how to handle?

[dragoneggs]

I cleared my property earlier this year and am in the midst of a multi-year landscaping project. I have about an acre of sloped property that I am building retaining walls, vegetable garden, orchard, and berry patch and maybe even some grape vines. Problem is that my clearing has been taken over by blackberries... expected, but also thousands of thistles. Many are now about 3ft tall and a pain in the (whatever comes in contact with them) arse. Weird that I have seen zero of these nasty weeds until now. They must have somehow got stirred up after being dormant for 30 years or so.

Okay, who has ideas of how to address these buggers? Other than scorched earth policy (which might have to be considered), is there something to control these things? I was contemplating this as I watched the remnants of my burn pile tonight so I apologize for the night shot of my latest nemesis.

 

[Wagtail]

Although it may not be a help Mate, my horses love to eat thistles! Right down to the ground and it's not because they're hungry. It's some sort of wierd 'treat' for them.

And, no, you can't send your thistles down to me. Tassie Quarantine would stop them at the port of entry. (Sorry)

 

[dragoneggs]

Although it may not be a help Mate, my horses love to eat thistles! Right down to the ground and it's not because they're hungry. It's some sort of wierd 'treat' for them.

And, no, you can't send your thistles down to me. Tassie Quarantine would stop them at the port of entry. (Sorry)

Now I wouldn't wish these on you or any other friendly... but if I could send them a long ways and never see them again, I would do it.
Horse is out of the question but it might call for a rental goat or two. Now if they eat the thistles, do the seeds just get replanted via their digestive system?

 

[TomSeller]

I can't tell if that is a Canada thistle but if it is, there is not much you can do other than herbicides given your hillside. Those spread by seed and lateral root systems. Both Blackberries and Canada Thistle can be treated with Crossbow if you go that route. It does not kill grass.

 

[forgeblast]

Spray, round up works great on them. For us in zone 5 i spray spring and then later summer. I just spot spray them.

 

[creekbend]

I've never had an outbreak as large as yours. I only get a few thistles throughput the year. The only way that I can get rid of an individual thistle is to get a shovel and pull the entire root system. If I don't get the roots, the thistle comes back. Since you have so many, this would be labor intensive. Best wishes.

 

[cmyoung2]

There are several chemicals that could work on the thistles and not hurt the grass. Crossbow is just one. I would check with your local Extension agent, he would know best for your area and conditions. Roundup would work, but kills most everything else too. And don't expect one treatment to solve the problem, especially with the blackberry, you are looking at 2+ years of treating, and since thistles are typically biannual, the tall ones you are seeing now are the mature plants from last year, you just didn't notice them, and since they reproduce from seeds, think about how many are just waiting. (cheerful thought )

 

[Egbert]

Only an acre of thistle? Consider yourself blessed.

I've spent 3 years working to clear 88 acres of thistle. It was no help that several neighbors made no effort at all - until I turned them in to the Department of Agriculture. Thistle is considered a noxious weed and land-owners are required, at least here, to keep it eradicated.

My primary method of control is "one plant at a time." Rather than pulling the root, because you can never know if you got it all, I cut the plant close to the ground and spray the stub with RoundUp. Yes, this is LABOR INTENSIVE - but effective. Only last year did I spray the entire pastures with GrazonNext as an additional control.

I have removed THOUSANDS of thistle. Although I will probably always have this as a fun spring activity, it is much easier now. I found 3 plants about a month ago but the place is essentially a thistle free zone - for now. NEVER NEVER NEVER let these plants go to seed. If you don't have time to take down the plant - pull off the heads and go back later.

You can also take the lazy way out and just mow the crxp out of them - BEFORE they turn to seed.

 

[Bob77064]

We have thistles here, I pull them or spray them.

 

[jeff9366]

Weed Wiper dispensing Roundup/Glycophosphate or a specialty version of same, might be a good bet. No wind drift of herbicide with a Weed Wiper properly used.

http://www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/spray/pubs/documents/Monsantohowtobuildpipewickapp.pdf


Garden Center Roundup is about 18% Glycophosphate.

Tractor Supply Company sells house brand 41% Glycophosphate relatively cheaply.