Thistles in PP

[bobk]

Got a grazing field that will be cut next year , all meadow grass and rye with a bit of clover , thistles need taking out but although thistlex is good , I fear it will take half the grass with it .... any suggestions

 

[HarryB97]

Got a grazing field that will be cut next year , all meadow grass and rye with a bit of clover , thistles need taking out but although thistlex is good , I fear it will take half the grass with it .... any suggestions

It'll kill the clover but the grass will be fine. Better off spending a few hours as and when spot spraying them.

 

[bobk]

It'll kill the clover but the grass will be fine. Better off spending a few hours as and when spot spraying them.

Not fancying that option , don't do manual .

 

[Chris F]

Not fancying that option , don't do manual .

Thistlex it is then. It’s about £68 for 3l.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Not fancying that option , don't do manual .

Get a knapsack on your back

 

[bobk]

Get a knapsack on your back

No thanks .

 

[Northeastfarmer]

No thanks .

Keep you fit

 

[bobk]

Thistlex it is then. It’s about £68 for 3l.

Not this time Chris , better options me thinks

 

[dt995]

I just spent a happy half hour watching our Shetland boss cow munching her way through a ~5' high thistle patch.

 

[betweenthelines]

Leave the chemicals in the shed. Top them (twice) and they'll go

 

[bobk]

Leave the chemicals in the shed. Top them (twice) and they'll go

I'll try that , thumbs up ..... fudgin emoji's

 

[Chris F]

I'll try that , thumbs up ..... fudgin emoji's

Too much like manual labour I’d guess

 

[HarryB97]

Not fancying that option , don't do manual .

Need a sprayer on a quad or buggy, I keep a small 7 litre hand pump sprayer in the buggy from April - August and do them as and when etc stops it becoming a problem

 

[neilo]

Leave the chemicals in the shed. Top them (twice) and they'll go

That rather depends on what type of thistle the op has. Spear thistles can certainly be (mostly) controlled by timely topping. Creeping thistles will love that treatment, and come back stronger after being pruned.

Any spray with Chlorpyralid will be the boss of creeping thistles, and even better with the addition of some humic acid to aid translocation.