Bull thistles

[oosik]

I know I'm not the only one with thistle problems. I've tried burning, chopping the stem off at the ground level, RoundUp or equal.

The problem seems to be the seed head. If it's not destroyed - the seeds will still ripen and the wind will spread them. Anywhere I rough up the ground - I will get thistles.

I've found a method that works for me. I never have a whole lot of thistle plants. Over the 80 acres I will get three or four dozen.

So, I'm on my ATV. Got a five gallon bucket - good pair of loppers - leather gloves. Before the heads go to seed - I'm all around the property - nip the head off - into the bucket. I burn the heads, to ash, in my burn barrel. Headless the thistle can not spread.

I really don't favor chemicals nor lugging jugs of chemicals all over the property.

 

[ponytug]

Thanks, that sounds like a great method for me to try next year!

In the past, I have mowed the bull thistle before they set flowers; the cows love the decapitated thistles. I keep getting thistle in the same areas, but as they are a 30 degree slope, there aren't a lot of options for me.

There was a local report here from the next county over that fertilizing thistle areas helped grass out compete thistles. I tried it without much success, but my soil may be too poor / I may not have applied enough fertilizer.

I do notice that they appear in some disturbed areas, and wetter spots.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Raul-02]

I know I'm not the only one with thistle problems.

If'n ya can't beat 'em, EAT 'EM~!!!
Did you know that burdock and bull thistles are near cousins of the artichoke?
You can Eat 'em. They are quite good.
First year thistle roots can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked.

The second year in spring the taproot can be dug up (before the stalk bolts) and it’s good roasted like potatoes or dried and ground into tasty flour that’s GREAT in fried onion rings.

Young leaves and second year stems can be harvester before the flower begins to form. They have sugars in them and are tasty but the spines are a PITA. So most folks just make tea if they use ‘em at all.

Cook and then remove the Bull Thistle flowerhead and you get a small wild artichoke heart.

 

[thclimer]

There are only 2 Bull Thistle plants on our 51 acres that I know of. While most of our property is forest there are many open areas but I guess around here there is just so much other competition with "green stuff" that something like a thistle just can't compete.

 

[oosik]

Raul-02 That is interesting. I like artichoke. I'll try eating them.

 

[East30]

I did that exact thing just last weekend. I have new spots that pop up from year to year. It works out to be quite manageable, once I got through them the first year. The numbers get less and less over my 70 acres. Tooke me all of 20 minutes last weekend.

 

[Aquamoose]

They sure look similar to Canadian thistle. I pull the whole thing out and throw them in the WM barrel for curbside pickup. I heard that it’s a law that property owners must mitigate their spread or get fined.

Pesky suckers.

 

[Raul-02]

I heard that it’s a law that property owners must mitigate their spread or get fined.

Oh Canada

 

[oosik]

Aquamoose - there is a TECHNICAL difference between Bull & Canadian thistles. Bull thistles have a very large tap root and do not spread via rhizomes. Canadian thistles have a spreading root system and they have rhizomes. Canadian thistles do spread via these rhizomes.

Both will spread via those nasty "umbrella-like" seeds.

I have Bull thistles. I've tried pulling them - VERY seldom able to get all of the very long, thick tap root.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I use the same method to control them. Got a five gallon bucket of Bull thistle heads yesterday, the Scottish Highland cows ate most of the stalks already.

Third year using the clip the bulb off method and have less than a quarter of the problem I had before.

 

[redman135]

Bull thistle, aka scotch thistle, is easy to get rid of if you have cattle. On a fine day bruise the leaves(use a harrow, or drag something over the thistles) this causes the leaves to wilt and the catttle will do the rest. The cattle won't eat unbruised thistles. Best results are obtained by bruising at the leafy stage and the cattle will eat the thistle off at ground level.
You can mow, but you must mow BEFORE the seed heads form. Expect to mow at least twice.

Canada thistle, aka californian thistle, requires different tactics (it sprouts from subteranean roots). Wait until the flowers are at the " hardball" stage,(flower head has formed but NOT flowered) then hit with roundup using a weed wiper(zwiper) or roller type wiper (roto wiper) if you want to save the grass, or blanket spray if you are culivating. NOTE the timing is critical to achieve a good kill. Also, take a before and after picture. Timed right, the callies will be exterminated.

 

[redman135]

oosik, with Bull / scotch thistle, the growing point is above the ground, so you only need to cut the top off and NOT leave any leaf. If you look closely at the stump and it has a cup shaped depression in it then you have removed the growing point and that thistle is dead.

 

[redman135]

If anyone has mystery infestations that just appear, did you feed hay there? Hay is a common source of thistle spread.

 

[oosik]

We get winds in the late fall. At times I've seen "white clouds" blowing in the wind. Great "pods" of thistle seeds. The ranchers on both side have thousands of acres of open range land. They can't be bothered with the spreading of thistles.

 

[ponytug]

If anyone has mystery infestations that just appear, did you feed hay there? Hay is a common source of thistle spread.

It is a nice idea.

Around here there is enough around on other properties to spread via wind. It doesn't correlate with our hay feeding, but I have no idea how long the seeds are viable in the soil here. For all that I know, the seeds come from 30 years ago.

To your prior comment on mowing/harrowing; it is what I do. I mow when it is in full growth, but no seed heads, and the cattle love the green "silage", and yes, I usually have to mow it twice here. Both times are always a bit hair raising due to our slopes, and the slick nature of thistle sap...but it is effective. I'm thinking of trying @oosik's method for any stragglers or in lieu of the second mow next year.

All the best,

Peter

 

[oosik]

I periodically travel on the ATV both North and South. Open range lands owned by two rancher. I seldom see much thistle on either property. Could be that the cattle will eat them. I know the deer really enjoy the seed heads of our milk weed.

Around here the thistle grows quite a bit taller than all the other grasses and weed. Pretty easy to spot.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

We get winds in the late fall. At times I've seen "white clouds" blowing in the wind. Great "pods" of thistle seeds. The ranchers on both side have thousands of acres of open range land. They can't be bothered with the spreading of thistles.

Last year I thought the cottonwoods were blowing it was so white out the front window. Until I noticed the umbrella shape of the thistle blowing towards the house. I've cut 6 12 gallon bags of the flower tops off of the thistle and pulled them after cutting the tops.
Then find out they spread by there root system! Well I guess I might have to spray them to get rid of them.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Bull thistle, aka scotch thistle, is easy to get rid of if you have cattle. On a fine day bruise the leaves(use a harrow, or drag something over the thistles) this causes the leaves to wilt and the catttle will do the rest. The cattle won't eat unbruised thistles. Best results are obtained by bruising at the leafy stage and the cattle will eat the thistle off at ground level.
You can mow, but you must mow BEFORE the seed heads form. Expect to mow at least twice.

Canada thistle, aka californian thistle, requires different tactics (it sprouts from subteranean roots). Wait until the flowers are at the " hardball" stage,(flower head has formed but NOT flowered) then hit with roundup using a weed wiper(zwiper) or roller type wiper (roto wiper) if you want to save the grass, or blanket spray if you are culivating. NOTE the timing is critical to achieve a good kill. Also, take a before and after picture. Timed right, the callies will be exterminated.

oosik, with Bull / scotch thistle, the growing point is above the ground, so you only need to cut the top off and NOT leave any leaf. If you look closely at the stump and it has a cup shaped depression in it then you have removed the growing point and that thistle is dead.

Thank you for the information redman135.

 

[TugBarge]

Around here there is enough around on other properties to spread via wind. It doesn't correlate with our hay feeding, but I have no idea how long the seeds are viable in the soil here. For all that I know, the seeds come from 30 years ago.

A farmer in Western WA once told me the local agricultural extension was suggesting thistle seeds are viable for up to 30 ish years, depending on soil conditions.

 

[TugBarge]

If anyone has mystery infestations that just appear, did you feed hay there? Hay is a common source of thistle spread.

Definitely get more thistle spread when feeding round bales without an elevated feeder - I have wondered if it's the seed in the hay OR the choking out of competitive grasses that actually causes the spread.