Killing thistles

whizkidkyus · Jun 12, 2017

Does anyone know of a good and preferably cheap home brew for killing thistles in your yard ? Vinegar ? Preferably one that won't harm people , pets , grass , flowers or trees ! In other words , non poisonous ! Prefer one that will kill permentely with the first application , definitely by the second . And prefer one that might help prevent regrowth . Sister has a field behind her house that is filled with them here in south central Kentucky. Field is also behind a neighboring old ladys house that is next door and the seeds from them is blowing into their yards and causing a big overtake of them . They are on a very limited budget so expensive remedies or high priced chemicals from lawn and garden centers are too. Mostly been mowing them down or digging them up . Field owner is another neighbor lady who isn't going to do anything about them in her field . Thanks for any and all help.

Whizkid

Aaron SEIA · Jun 12, 2017

Given your parameters, it is impossible. Depending on the thistle type it takes multiple applications over several years. With some thistles cutting and digging actually makes it worse. Perhaps a few hungry goats...?
AaronSEIA

4520BW · Jun 12, 2017

Are they Canadian or bull thistles?

Dick L · Jun 12, 2017

When thistles go to seed the wind broadcasts the seeds over a large area. They have to be stopped before they go to seed. Cutting them in bloom before they seed will kill them. Not something you can do in a yard.

farmerwithmutt · Jun 12, 2017

Timing is the key cut around the time they bloom and they won't have time to develop a seed head before frost Also thistle can't stand competition a good heavy stand of grass will eventually choke them out. Thistle is usually natures first line of defense its as we do fence off an area to keep cattle out usually you will see them on overgrazed pasture or land that is abused fix the problem and they will go away. In the meantime enjoy the finch and butterflies that are attracted to them.

showcrop · Jun 12, 2017

You could make your own nearly Roun-up with salt and water.

Lazy WP · Jun 12, 2017

A shovel or hoe, given your parameters.

Texasmark1 · Jun 12, 2017

I'm yet to hurt, much less kill, any persons or animals with 24D Amine in 40 years of using it. However thistles don't share that philosophy....so solly, grin. Usually 1 application at 1% (Amine to water) is all I need if not for total eradication, no followup required for several years. Container has instructions. Just keep pets off it till it gets dry.

Super-H-Mike · Jun 12, 2017

Salt. When we were kids and got too out of hand, we were given the job of walking the the big cow pastures and salting the thistle growing there .

teddy52food · Jun 12, 2017

Here in mid Mn. they won't go away but will get thicker & keep spreading if you don't do something to control them. In 10 years of my land in CRP they kept getting worse.

David G · Jun 12, 2017

Trimec

paul · Jun 12, 2017

Well, you pretty much ruled out any possible solution, so good luck with that hoe! Takes several years of keeping them black before that massive root mass gives up, assuming these are Canadian thistles? If you let them grow to bud stage they refer their root and you get to start over, several more years of hoing.....

Vinager seems far more expensive than Stinger or 24D, as does salt? One changes the ph of your soil, the other poisons it far more than any herbicide, so might want to rethink your views of farming some also. Pretty silly to run around with bags of salt ruining your land in the name of avoiding some pretend 'poison'?

Be good to your dirt, use the proper herbicide if you are going to use one. Thistles are a little different, with that massive root mass they don't respond much to the minor local burn a little vinegar or salt does anyhow.

Paul

jddrawbar · Jun 12, 2017

Monsanto wishes that was true.....

hd6gtom · Jun 12, 2017

24-d and Banvil. Thistles must be cut before they put on a seed head, if you wait till the seed head is formed, you need to pick themall up and burn them. As far as grass crowding out thistles around here it is the other way around. Turn the dam goats in to the thistle patch before they form seeds, the seeds go right thru them and are spread just as bad as if the wind blew them around. 30 years tring to get rid of the darn things here, both thistles and goats.

showcrop · Jun 12, 2017

(quoted from post at 09:01:26 06/12/17) Monsanto wishes that was true.....

Try reading my post again.

El Hombre · Jun 12, 2017

(quoted from post at 17:01:26 06/12/17) Monsanto wishes that was true.....

I used Round Up on star thistles and the purple ones. I had to get out and spray as soon as they started growing, but it killed them.

30 years ago my property was over run with star thistles. Now, I have to go looking for it.

Jerry/MT · Jun 12, 2017

We have a problem with Canada thistle in our pastures and there are three main issues. First we have a high seed load in the ground, Second, in August when they bloom, the seed load is added in our project irrigation water. And three is the "tilling of soil" that the voles do. All our patches f thistles occur randomly where the voles are heavy. We have an abundance of predators but the physiology of the vole makes me wonder why they haven"t overrun the earth!

None the less, last fall we used Grazon at 1.5 pints per acre on a part of a pasture where I had a big problem. This year no thistles. I have been using 2,4,-D and dicamba (Weedmaster, Rangestar, Veteran 700, etc) but I have never gotten this dramatic of a result. I will try it again this fall.

delano nc · Jun 12, 2017

Have seen Jack (our donkey) walk up to one and eat it.

showcrop · Jun 12, 2017

(quoted from post at 11:31:45 06/12/17)

(quoted from post at 17:01:26 06/12/17) Monsanto wishes that was true.....

Click to expand...

I used Round Up on star thistles and the purple ones. I had to get out and spray as soon as they started growing, but it killed them.

30 years ago my property was over run with star thistles. Now, I have to go looking for it.

Hombre, you hit the nail on head. This is true for many difficult weeds. You just have to get out and at them early before they mature and get established. I haven't seen thistle in two years. My milkweed is pretty much all gone, and I have the creeping Charlie in my lawn on the run. If you keep a watch while mowing, then you know where to head for when you have a slack day.

Nick m · Jun 12, 2017

Yup. What he said.

ss55 · Jun 12, 2017

What kind of thistle? The larger Bull thistle and Russian thistle are easy to kill by chopping off all the top growth one time with a hoe or a spade. The smaller Canadian thistle has a strong root that is much much tougher to control. Repeated chemical applications at the proper time works. Repeatedly removing all the top growth, any time there is any top growth, for five to ten years can eventually starve the root.

If you need a one-application way to kill Canadian thistles, the only thing I've seen that comes close is Tordon K (a soil sterilizer?). Nothing will grow on the treated spot for several years and sometimes the first thing to grow there is still the original Canadian thistle.

With a field of uncontrolled thistles next door, your sister will have a never ending problem. I would advise your sister to either call her county about the neighbor's poor weed control, or move away.

36F30 · Jun 12, 2017

The best herbicide to control any thistle is Milestone. My cost for it is $750 a gallon, but at rates of 3 to 7 oz per acre it can be very cost effective. Even with this very low chemical load per acre it is both foliar and soil active. If the flowers are set but the seeds haven't released, it kills the seeds too. Mowing colony thistles like Canada thistle is absolutely ineffective. The thistle control battle began with their introduction by a homesick pioneer and hasn't let up, while eradication would be the ultimate goal, control is the only reasonable option. Modern tools like Milestone make that possible, but the battle will continue long after we are gone

kcm.MN · Jun 12, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:03:25 06/12/17) The best herbicide to control any thistle is Milestone. My cost for it is $750 a gallon, but at rates of 3 to 7 oz per acre it can be very cost effective.

...So can I buy 3 drops from ya'?? *lol*

Just kidding.

Killing thistles

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

New User

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads