Controlling Thistle

[Hinotori]

You pick tumbleweed when it's small and green before the spikes harden. Then you can saute it or treat it like asparagus.

It's ok. Nothing I was going to raise or get cravings for. It was considered an emergency food for the poor when my grandparents were young.

It's one of the plants we covered in Biology 2 in my highschool since we had so much of the stuff. I decided I'd collect and try everything we covered that I could pick on the school property. The middle/high school owns about 80 acres of semi-arid desert and riparian area by the river.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Wish I had an answer for you... My guess is it will take a multi-faceted approach. Not sure how much area you're dealing with - but as you already know, keeping it cut so it can't go to seed will probably help somewhat.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Aside from the chemical means, which I refuse to use... Sounds like you are doing the best you can. Exactly how much land are they encroaching upon? What are you using that land for? Is this pasture land? Other weedy issues? Do you hay it? If you continually cut it before it can go to flower, you may eventually win. If this is pasture, it may be time to consider renewing it. Plow it,perhaps several times, then reseed it at a heavy rate with what ever pasture mix does well in your zone. You might want to contact your County Agricultural extension office, and seek advice for organic control. Your tax dollars are supporting this service. So, IMO... it's a good idea to call these folks and help them to earn their pay checks.

Canadian thistle spreads from seeds AND underground rhizomes/roots. Here's an article:

https://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-weeds/feature_articles/thistles/thistles.html

You are wise to destroy all blossoms as soon as you see them. When doing so, cut the plant at the base instead of just cutting the blooms. We have some thistle plants that show up in my lower lawn area. I go through, and dig the roots out as soon as things start to green up in the spring. If the crowns sprout again, I repeat the digging attacks. Close mowing will help to starve out the plants.

 

[Britesea]

You could try a Vinegar spray. It kills the top growth but not the roots, so you have to do it repeatedly. I've found that it is helping with my couch grass problems... but it will take several years before the plants finally give up the ghost. Still, it's a lot safer - and cheaper - than RoundUp

 

[Britesea]

Yep. If you add a squirt of dish detergent, like Palmolive, it'll make the vinegar stick better. What it does is dessicate the leaves so the top part of the plant dies. I've seen recipes that say to add epsom salts, but since that's a fertilizer, doesn't seem like a good idea when you're trying to kill the roots. I just go over the area about every 3-4 weeks and spray to get any new shoots coming up. This is the second year, and I am seeing a definite reduction in the couch grass. Can't let up though, or it'll come back.

 

[Beekissed]

If you can't do livestock, then mowing it frequently is your best bet. The best pastures are those that are mowed more frequently, or so the old timers say.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Vinegar is non selective, so it would likely kill or certainly knock back ANY plants it comes in contact with. Agreed with Bee. frequent mowing. I don't know how much vinegar, and how often you could get away with it without having a negative effect on your soil pH. You would certainly need to pay attention to that. Also... could it be that your pH could be tweaked to make the prairie less hospitable to thistle?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

It took us 3 years to eradicate them. All by shovel.

That's dedication...

 

[flowerbug]

Thank you @Beekissed !!! DS12 pulled a wheelbarrow full of thistle. DH chopped them with a weedwhacker in a barrel. Fed to ewes with cracked corn on top. First feed last night. I am hopeful!

interesting! how did it work out?

we have it around here. i dig it up and get out as much of the roots as possible and eventually that does take care of it in that spot until new seeds are brought in.

sow-thistle is harder to get rid of, but we've kept at it.

 

[tortoise]

We were not successful training sheep to eat thistle. Unlike the situation in the video, our pasture is to large and too good for the sheep to eat thistles. We are considering mob grazing the worst thistle pasture, but IDK if that will be enough.

More digging. 😝