Thistle epidemic... how to handle?

[dragoneggs]

Guys... I am not hearing much hope here. This is what I was afraid of. I never saw one thistle until I cleared. I feel like I uncovered a monster and am under assault. Things are going dormant here... is it too late to treat? I guess it is Crossbow, equivalent, or stronger is necessary? Forgeblast, thanks for you informative post but I am not totally getting it. I see your two lists but I don't understand the difference?

 

[forgeblast]

If you go to the link it will be set up in the chart form and it will be easier to read.
Since when I cut and pasted it something went away. The second chart lists more types of spray.
there should be 13 different types of sprays that they tested.

http://extension.psu.edu/pests/weeds/control/weed-management-in-crep-grasslands the link again go about 1/2 way down.

 

[TomSeller]

Guys... I am not hearing much hope here. This is what I was afraid of. I never saw one thistle until I cleared. I feel like I uncovered a monster and am under assault. Things are going dormant here... is it too late to treat? I guess it is Crossbow, equivalent, or stronger is necessary? Forgeblast, thanks for you informative post but I am not totally getting it. I see your two lists but I don't understand the difference?

I would treat them right away while the sap is going back down to the roots, carrying the herbicide. Then again in spring when they are about 1' in height. You should be in much better shape this time next year.

 

[Ken45101]

Won't frequent mowing help? Or even cure the problem?

 

[dave1949]

Won't frequent mowing help? Or even cure the problem?

I would think so.

What weed can survive regular mowing that needs time and growth height to reproduce? Seems like it would eventually die out or be choked out by plants that can be mowed, like grasses.

 

[TomSeller]

Won't frequent mowing help? Or even cure the problem?

Mowing helps if you can do it often but seed heads form down low making the need to mow lower which in a pasture situation you are then mowing your feed. Mowing does not stop lateral root growth. The attached link from Purdue spells it out fairly well.

http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-436-W.pdf

My opinion is that you need spot treatment by herbicide spring and fall with mowing half way between.

 

[Ken45101]

The above article and the earlier one both refer to CRP areas where mowing is not allowed or is very restricted.

FWIW, I have a few "trails" through our pasture where I frequently mow. Weeds are very limited compared to the rest of the pasture that gets bushogged once or twice a year.

The other observation I will make is that the referenced extension articles are about Canada Thistle and the OP did not identify the actual species of thistle. We may be jumping to some conclusions as to what he actually has and how best to handle it.

We we bought this farm a dozen years ago, one pasture was very heavy thistle. Keeping it bushogged, the thistle has virtually disappeared in a short time. (I have no idea as to what kind of thistle it was.) YMMV

 

[AchingBack]

The above article and the earlier one both refer to CRP areas where mowing is not allowed or is very restricted.

FWIW, I have a few "trails" through our pasture where I frequently mow. Weeds are very limited compared to the rest of the pasture that gets bushogged once or twice a year.

The other observation I will make is that the referenced extension articles are about Canada Thistle and the OP did not identify the actual species of thistle. We may be jumping to some conclusions as to what he actually has and how best to handle it.

We we bought this farm a dozen years ago, one pasture was very heavy thistle. Keeping it bushogged, the thistle has virtually disappeared in a short time. (I have no idea as to what kind of thistle it was.) YMMV

Well, I don't think it is Canada thistle. The leaves look broader. My first thought was it appeared to be Prickly Lettuce, or Prickly Sow-Thistle, neither of which are hard to eradicate.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I had a forestry guy give me a lecture on the LONG life of a forest. It was quite interesting and I am sure what I am about to write has many missing points so take it as a starting point.

In a clearcut, weeds tend to come back first. Partly due to the Voracity, but in a bigger picture, the belief is that it attracts animals as a food source, which means fertilizer and new types of seeds.

In the PNW, the first trees up are generally Alders. They are finding a symbiotic relationship between Alders and Firs. Alders have a short life, so they will grow up, and provide protection from grazing animals for the Firs. First will eventually grow beyond the alders, choking them out.

In the fir lifecycle, I guess it is Firs First, then Red Cedar, then Hemlock. Of course if you are lucky you then get Sequoia / Redwood. This cycle is being listed over a 1000 years (meaning 100 years of Firs, followed by 150 years of cedar, then 150 years of hemlock, then.........

As for the thistle, outside of our berm, we just spray and mow. I have been told that for blackberry crossbow should be used spring and fall only, you are wasting it in a summer application. Not sure how it applies to thistle.

October 15 is my cutoff for winter spraying as I feel the plants are pretty much dormant by November 1.

 

[TomSeller]

I agree it would be good to get more pictures. The Canada thistle is such a beast it is worth discussing. But you are right, it may not be that.