Thistle epidemic... how to handle?

[forgeblast]

I am enrolled in CREP, we have a bit over 2 acres in it. All of my trees are above the tree tubes (5' tubes) now and the golden rod and other bushy thick plants have come in thick. I am also in year 3 or 4 of 15, so I can no longer mow. I spot spray and that is it. In a few years the canopy will be thick enough to keep some of the weeds from germinating but right now I still walk it spring and fall with a back pack sprayer. My main foes are honeysuckle, multi-flora rose, thistle, and different vines that want to go all out like mile a min. Many times like when I am working on wrecking large established bushes of honey suckle or Japanese knot weed I will week wack in the spring, let them shoot up and hit them with roundup etc..

 

[dragoneggs]

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

Can't mow... too sleep and still rough with rocks, sticks, etc from clearing.

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.

Better pics coming shortly...

 

[Egbert]

And, mowing hay pastures isn't really feasible.

I say, put in the labor and take them out by cutting and spraying each and every one. It is a J O B to be sure but in 3 or 4 years you'll have a handle on the problem. Also, if you have lazy neighbors, call the Dept of Ag and force the issue.

 

[TomSeller]

And, mowing hay pastures isn't really feasible.

I say, put in the labor and take them out by cutting and spraying each and every one. It is a J O B to be sure but in 3 or 4 years you'll have a handle on the problem. Also, if you have lazy neighbors, call the Dept of Ag and force the issue.

Our hay fields aren't really an issue. Canada thistles do not like shade and the grass grows earlier and taller than they do. Also, they get reliably mowed about the time they think of budding out, depleting their root resources. Lastly, those fields do not regularly have livestock on them and the sod does not get cut by hooves so the soil is not as exposed to weed seed.

My feeding fields are the worst and the fields we alternate are in between.

 

[dragoneggs]

And, mowing hay pastures isn't really feasible.

I say, put in the labor and take them out by cutting and spraying each and every one. It is a J O B to be sure but in 3 or 4 years you'll have a handle on the problem. Also, if you have lazy neighbors, call the Dept of Ag and force the issue.

Ha... my seriously wonderful 80year old neighbor is eyeing my property. I don't want to be the problem. It will be a job. Difficult even to walk the slopes to get at them without slipping, rolling an ankle, etc. but I think you are right.

 

[Egbert]

"My feeding fields are the worst..."

This raises another issue I haven't seen in this thread. Perhaps it doesn't apply to you, but ...

All the control efforts, from mowing, spraying, cutting, napalm ... whatever, stand to be lost when you buy hay. If the seller was some lazy SOB that didn't clear the thistle, your livestock will be happy to plant it throughout your acreage.

 

[TomSeller]

"My feeding fields are the worst..."

All the control efforts, from mowing, spraying, cutting, napalm ... whatever, stand to be lost when you buy hay. If the seller was some lazy SOB that didn't clear the thistle, your livestock will be happy to plant it throughout your acreage.

You are exactly correct. I don't buy hay but that is where the weeds are the hardest to control, that's where all the seed goes. Packaged in fertilizer or pressed into the soil.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay pics... upon closer inspection I have found several species, or however you might label them.



The most prevalent is the first one and they are normally 18in to 36in. and notice that they are mostly dead some still kicking though... we have had a couple near freezing nights and I am guessing that the cold is doing them in. Easy to pull but I suppose too late. Did spend a couple hours this afternoon wasting my time with them.

The second pic I only found one of but very unusual. I showed the wife and asked her if we should keep it and she said, WHAT?.

The third pic is of the biggest upto 4ft tall but not too many of them.

The fourth is a low growing type and I have left them alone for now. Just no fun to pull by hand. They are intermixed with a couple blackberry varieties.

 

[AchingBack]

"My feeding fields are the worst..."

This raises another issue I haven't seen in this thread. Perhaps it doesn't apply to you, but ...

All the control efforts, from mowing, spraying, cutting, napalm ... whatever, stand to be lost when you buy hay. If the seller was some lazy SOB that didn't clear the thistle, your livestock will be happy to plant it throughout your acreage.

Yes indeed. Thousands of acres in the northwest were contaminated with star thistle contained in the hay, or straw bales used in the project to contain erosion on logging sites.

 

[AchingBack]

Okay pics... upon closer inspection I have found several species, or however you might label them.

View attachment 340798 View attachment 340799 View attachment 340800 View attachment 340801

The most prevalent is the first one and they are normally 18in to 36in. and notice that they are mostly dead some still kicking though... we have had a couple near freezing nights and I am guessing that the cold is doing them in. Easy to pull but I suppose too late. Did spend a couple hours this afternoon wasting my time with them.

The second pic I only found one of but very unusual. I showed the wife and asked her if we should keep it and she said, WHAT?.

The third pic is of the biggest upto 4ft tall but not too many of them.

The fourth is a low growing type and I have left them alone for now. Just no fun to pull by hand. They are intermixed with a couple blackberry varieties.

Pic #1 does look like Canada thistle, . #2 appears to be bull thistle, which is a biennial, and much easier to control, as it does not regenerate through its roots. Sorry to say, #3 also looks like canada thistle, and number four is also bull thistle. Bull thistle is easily controlled in small areas by beheading. The Canada thistle is going to be your biggest challenge. It has been there forever, hidden in the black berries. The root system is massive. http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/ws/canadathistle/roots.jpg Somewhere I read the average infestation laid flat would cover ten square miles.