| Author |
Garden Gate:  thistles...  |
|
|
rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
 Posted - May 09 2013 : 7:22:15 PM
|
does anyone know how to rid a garden of thistles? we dig and dig and they keep coming back...short of roundup-ing the whole lot, is there anything else to try, escpecially if theres something growing already, like strawberries? i swear the roots go to China!
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
|
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2013 : 02:00:38 AM
|
| In my experience, if you keep the thistle plants from producing seeds, and protect your property from seeds from neighboring stands (with that tarp you've thought about using), you can get rid of thistle without resorting to Roundup. As you know, of course, it's best to dig out the thistle and deeply as possible to get all the root. If you want to have a little fun, you could get (or rent) one of those weed flamer-throwers and just keep zapping every thistle plant you see trying to grow. The roots will eventually die if leaves are never allowed to form. Good luck! |
 |
|
|
kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2013 : 02:19:58 AM
|
I dig them up, and if they come back I do not let them bloom, I wack them down to the ground with a week eater, and they will eventually die off.
I have to or else the get into the sheep's wool ... pasture management.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
|
|
|
|
SheenaJean
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Sheena
MT
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2013 : 08:43:56 AM
|
| Have any livestock? I know a lot of people out here use cows, goats, and sheep to eat thistle...they even train them to focus on thistle! |
|
|
|
Marigold
Farmgirl in Training
38 Posts
Marigold
Chicago
IL
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2013 : 08:50:18 AM
|
| I was just working at the co-op and the managing farmer told me that last couple years they have been rotating the cattle into any thistle patches and that seems to get rid of them. They use the movable electric fence system. |
|
|
|
AlyssaMarie
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
AlyssaMarie
Palouse
Washington
USA
287 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2013 : 07:44:18 AM
|
I feel your pain! Thistles are a huge problem on our property too. And its hard to stay on top of it all. I don't want to use chemicals either. We just keep pulling and digging and cutting them off hoping we'll eventually get them to give up. I have found that in some of the worst places or in places I really need them gone, like the garden, that black landscape fabric does help. But I know some people don't like the idea of fabric either.
AlyssaMarie @ Link'd Hearts Ranch
|
|
|
|
SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2013 : 09:53:56 AM
|
We have them here and they get in the pasture and that means getting into the wool. We try to keep them cut. They can take over quickly.
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
|
|
|
sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2013 : 12:54:15 PM
|
We have been having success with spraying each plant with a solution of 2 parts apple cider vinegar to 5 parts water. It messes with the ph level and they shrivel up and die. The secret has already been mentioned above. Kill them before they seed.
Sherone
Farmgirl Sister #1682
Thirty-One Independent Consultant
www.mythirtyone.com/233237
My Blog
www.annapearlsattic.blogspot.com
Women are angels. When someone breaks our wings, we just jump on our broomsticks and fly! We are flexible that way! |
|
|
|
sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2013 : 09:21:48 AM
|
I would think that if you dig them up, then pour ACV in the hole that would probably get them for good. I think I might try this myself. It's worth a try!
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
|
|
|
|
gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2013 : 1:45:05 PM
|
Some one needs to come up with a dynamic use for the hard to kill weeds, that way they would just stop growing because every one would want them.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
|
|
| |
Garden Gate: thistles... |
|
thistles...
