Mowing the thistle

[skidoo]

in all the ferns....

That time of year again. A bunch of thistle gets mowed before going to seed. Don't mind the ferns being there, but some of it has to go too as collateral damage. Unfortunately, I never seem to have time to get it all.

Two years ago, I removed obstacles and rock after the area burned and I could see the stuff. Had that not happened, and whats underneath unknown, it would be brush hog only

Anyway, I thought I would share these pictures.

 

[Duffster]

What kind of thistle is it?

We have some that mowing only makes them spread, they need to be sprayed.

 

[Thomas]

Hope your able get them before they go to seed.

 

[LBrown59]

in all the ferns....

That time of year again. A bunch of thistle gets mowed before going to seed. Don't mind the ferns being there, but some of it has to go too as collateral damage. Unfortunately, I never seem to have time to get it all.

Two years ago, I removed obstacles and rock after the area burned and I could see the stuff. Had that not happened, and whats underneath unknown, it would be brush hog only

Anyway, I thought I would share these pictures.

Why didn't you mow it before it got so high ?
Why aren't you using the JD2520 to mow it with?

 

[skidoo]

Why didn't you mow it before it got so high ?

It's a low priority area and mostly ferns I tend to let go natural. I am just mowing some paths and clusters of thistle within right now. I mowed it all down last fall after the ferns frosted over and died down. I never mowed it before for 17 years and this picture shows what happened in April 2008.

Why aren't you using the JD2520 to mow it with?

The 2520 is not primarily used for mowing. I'll use the LX4 on it in areas of heavier brush however. Even with the ferns being so tall, it is not too demanding on the X749...

 

[LBrown59]

It's a low priority area and mostly ferns I tend to let go natural. I am just mowing some paths and clusters of thistle within right now. I mowed it all down last fall after the ferns frosted over and died down. I never mowed it before for 17 years and this picture shows what happened in April 2008...

Looks like the area recovered from the fire very well .

 

[linearxs]

Are you mowing that with a finish mower or brushhog?

 

[Redneck in training]

A weed police visited us about three years ago. To our surprise there are some weed illegal in Iowa and thistle is one of them. Because of overgrazing by previous owner we had about 6 to 8 ac of it. The guy was actually pretty nice and helpful and said that we have about 5 yrs to get rid of it. Based on our experience (we are in third year of trying to get rid of it) Mowing works only at spring and in areas that are mowed regularly. Mowing it when it gets tall makes it spread because the plant develops seed even cut. Spraying work the best at fall when the nutrients are moved from the leaves to the roots. So far we had the best success just putting gloves on and pulling the plants out of ground and burning them. I think we pulled at least single car garage size pile last season. Once the grass or other ground cover gets hold the thistle has hard time to compete and is much easier to deal with. Just thought that I will share it with you.

 

[6thgpSF]

Musk thistle which was imported here I think from England was grown as an ornamental in gardens. Theres several native species ,musck thistle is considered a noxious weed here in Ks. and if found on your property you must eradicate it.Farmers usually spray it and spring and late fall early winter the plant goes into the rosetta phase which is the best time to spray because the plant grows flat to the ground giving a good application . I had an old farmer friend that would cut the flower heads off and put em in a bag and dispose of them , he told me even if you cut the flower unripe it will continue to ripe.

 

[skidoo]

Are you mowing that with a finish mower or brushhog?

I was mowing with the X749, dedicated finish mower..