QA

Quick Answer: How To Kill Russian Thistle

Herbicides that will control Russian thistle include 2,4-D, dicamba, or glyphosate (sold under the trade name Roundup). Dicamba and 2,4-D are selective herbicides that will control many broadleaf weeds but usually do not injure grasses.

How do I get rid of Russian thistle naturally?

If the thistle plants are young, you can do a good job of managing tumbleweeds by simply pulling the plants up by their roots before they seed. Mowing can be a helpful means of Russian thistle control if done just as the plant blooms.

Will vinegar kill Russian thistle?

A homemade herbicide consisting of vinegar and salt may be effective at killing unwanted thistle plants. The vinegar needs to contain at least 20 percent acetic acid to be effective at killing weeds. Saturating the unwanted plants once a week with this mixture helps control the problem.

What product kills thistle?

Among myriad available weed sprays, glyphosate proves to be effective on thistle. Apply to individual cut stems an inch or two above the soil line, taking careful aim of the weed sprayer to avoid contact with desirable plants. Reapplication in several weeks may be needed for well-established thistle.

What herbicide will kill thistle?

Best Herbicide for Thistles Roundup for Lawns is the recommended product for controlling thistles in your lawn, advises Roundup. While you can apply Roundup at any time, you will achieve the best control of the weeds if you apply the herbicide when the thistles are small and young.

How do I permanently get rid of thistles?

Apply herbicides to kill thistle, especially in spring and fall, before thistles can flower and seed. Use glyphosate for your garden, and use a broad-leaf herbicide containing 2,4-D or MCPP for your lawn. Since glyphosate kills all plants, you must keep application specific.

What eats Russian thistle?

Mice, bighorn sheep and pronghorn eat the tender shoots. As it rolls down a desert road, Russian thistle plants do what they do best, disperse seeds, which typically number 250,000 per plant.

Does bleach kill thistles?

Bleach is effective in killing thistles, but it raises the pH level of the soil so high that it might be difficult to grow plants in the same location afterward. Bleach is also not a good choice if the thistle is growing next to desired plants.

What kills thistles not grass?

Another product you can try is Adios Organic Weed Killer, which has been shown to work particularly well on Thistles. This product has the ability to travel into the root system of the weed, giving it a much better chance to kill the entire plant, rather than just the top half.

Can you burn Russian thistle?

Burning is sometimes used to destroy accumulated Russian thistle plants however this is not an effective control practice. While burning may eliminate the accumulated organic debris most seed will already have been disseminated. Many herbicides are effective against Russian thistle.

What spray kills Canadian thistle?

We recommend using 2,4-D Amine Selective Weed Killer to treat Canada Thistle. This professional-quality herbicide is easy to use and is selective so it will only target the problem weed and leave your desired plants unharmed.

How do I get rid of thistles in my field?

Herbicides are often the most flexible and affordable option for thistle control in pastures. However, like mowing, timing is an important factor for many herbicides. Several commonly used pasture herbicides are highly effective on thistles if applied early in the growing season (Table 2).

What kills thistles pasture?

Table 1. Effective Thistle Herbicides (alphabetical order) Herbicide Product Active Ingredient(s) Spot Spray Rate 3 Milestone Aminopyralid 0.1% Surmount 2 Picloram + fluroxypyr 1.25% Weedmaster Dicamba + 2,4-D 1.25% 2,4-D 2,4-D 1.25%.

Will Roundup kill Canadian thistle?

What about Canada Thistle in My Lawn? To control Canada thistle, use Roundup® For Lawns1 Ready-To-Use to spot treat plants as they appear. To prevent future Canada thistle invasions, routinely fertilize your lawn (4 times per year) to keep it so thick and lush that there’s simply no room for weeds.

Does 2,4-D kill thistle?

2,4-D is widely used for thistle control, but one application is seldom enough to kill the plants. This systemic herbicide usually will not kill or severely injure nearby forage legumes. Overapplication may reduce 2,4-D’s effectiveness by killing the tops before much of the active ingredient moves to the roots.

Can you burn thistle?

Yes, you can burn dead thistle. Place the weeds in a pile, let them dry for a day or so, and then ignite them with an accelerant. This is a good way to dispose of the plant and any seeds.

What animals eat thistles?

Thistles are very good feed with 22-24 percent protein, and cattle will readily eat it once they start. We pour molasses on our thistles to encourage our cattle to eat them, and it works.

What is Russian thistle good for?

Russian thistle provides fair forage for cattle and sheep in the early spring, becoming worthless with maturity because of the sharp-pointed leaves. If it turns black at maturity and is softened by moisture it is good winter feed.

Is Russian thistle poisonous?

Russian thistle is a large and bushy annual broadleaf plant that is common in the Mojave Desert. It is also known as tumbleweed or windwitch. The plant is edible and serves as a food source to some livestock which graze in the desert but it is also, paradoxically, poisonous if eaten in too great of a quantity.