How To Kill Thistles

[Bird]

Birdman, did you ever hear Justin Wilson tell the story about the Cajun that so proud of his garden, but another Cajun told him he could improve it 100% by plowing it with a white mule? He didn't believe it, but he figured, I have to plow it anyway, might as well plow it with a white mule.

Well, I was that way with planting my garden. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I bought The Old Farmer's Almanac every year and planted by their charts, both by the weather and the signs of the moon. Now I don't know whether that had anything to do with it or not, but I sure did have some nice gardens. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It might interest you to know she lived in KY, Casey Co. )</font>

Us "hilbillies" have quite a few of them thar old customs....

Like marryin' our wimminfolk while they're youngins....

My dad and my father-in-law neither would plant ANYTHING without consulting the lunar charts, calender, and watching all the "nature signs". I've still got a number of old calenders in the shop from the days when those two said JUMP, and I said how high?

Sure do miss the both of 'em.....

 

[Birdman]

Bird, no I never heard that one but who knows maybe it could make a difference. I will try about anything with-in reason to get an edge on gardening.
Indydirtfarmer " Like marryin' our wimminfolk while they're youngins.... " I thougth that was cousins you guys married /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cabinholler]

Birdman

Thank you for your info on the moon signs about killing thistles. By the way, I live in Boyle County KY, but my farm is in Casey County KY off highway 49 where I grew up as a kid. You said in your post that your aunt that had passed away that lived in Casey Country KY went by moon signs to plant her garden. I would like to know the name of your aunt that lived in Casey County KY, because I might know her, or some of her family members. If you don't want to post her full name and family members on this board, please send me a private message.

Cabinholler

The water will never clear up until you get the hogs out of the pond. (You got to find what the trouble is, and eliminate it).

 

[buckthorn]

if you need something more selective than Roundup, I recommend Transline (aka Stinger). It's a semi-selective that targets composites, and knocks thistles out much faster and thoroughly than 2, 4D. You don't have to wait long after spraying to see those thistles start to droop. One hitch is that it's an expensive chemical, and it does leave some residue in the soil.
~bkthn

 

[donaldprice]

when do we spray a field for thistles

 

[rgood]

Usually it's best before May - If you wait longer, they are taller, gone to seed etc.

If you have a big problem, you can spray again in the fall - Usually the COOP will spray chemical in the Fall that will carry over to the spring.

 

[oldnslo]

Some times adding a little crop oil to the spray makes a big difference on thistles. The oil helps cut through the wax on the thistle leaves so that more of the chemical is absorbed by the thistle.

Smal patch shovel is still the best and cheapest solution.

Roy

 

[jobguy]

I had been cutting and spraying Thistle, then the owner of the lots behind my lot cut all the buckthorn brush. Now my mowed 4 acres can be seen from a paved walking/biking path. Well,,, city folk seem to think any yard larger than theirs is a park and think nothing of using my yard as a off leash dog park. They also come to my storage shed to look at the neat tractor stuff. So,,,, I have let the thistle grow. I may cut them when they reach a couple of feet high. City dogs feet are too tender, city people and kids will not walk across or through thistle either. I also put up signs to keep people out. The thing is I'm a neighborly guy, I just want them to come to the front door and introduce themselves. It turns out "Thistle" is my friend.

 

[treefarmer391]

We've been using Roundup 'Super Concentrate' for 20+ years now on our farm. Recipe is a 2% mix along with a sufficant additive. Any stronger and the ground gets 'nuked' out. Does not grow anything for a couple of years.