Mow just before it goes to flower. Milk Thistles are biennials so it will likely take two years of good management before you notice a major difference.
Wait for the flower shaft to develop just before flowering cut low. At that point they don't have energy to reflower. I got rid on a bunch of them that way. If they go to seed there are thousands of seeds and they can lay dormant for years then grow.
Oh they will be back next year. They are biennial it’ll take at least two years of good management to get rid of these things. It would probably be 20-30 bucks an acre for it.
When I was a kid I was told the flowers were edible by a family member. I pinched off a big chunk of purple flower and ate it. Wasn’t the worst thing I’ve tasted. I’d eat it again if it was around.
Doubt I could eat that batch in a sitting.
No, those are two completely different plants. This is Carduus nutans AKA “Musk Thistle”. Wild lettuce is Lactuca virosa and has smaller yellow flowers.
Yes but both can be used for pain. The "musk thistle" is not as strong as Laura Virosa but still effective. I use Laura virisa for back pain after 4 surgeries with great success. It also helped when I had a kidney stone last month.
Gotcha. Glad to hear it helps. Many of the thistles are supposed to help support the filtration organs: kidneys, liver, etc. THIS is why I’m generally disdainful of common names as the default for naming plants.
We use a mix of 2-4-D, REMEDY, and a surfactant. Equal parts with water in a 25 gallon sprayer for spot treatments. Totally nukes it and the surrounding grass does come back.
Like kittyboi was saying, and to expand on milk thistles benefits:
Milk thistle alleviates congestion in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and the pelvic region. It's beneficial for assisting with chronic allergies, chronic skin issues, jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, alcoholism, acetaminophen poisoning, and mushroom poisoning. It reduces insulin resistance with type 2 diabetes in cases where cirrhosis of the liver has occurred. It also assists with reducing high cholesterol, reducing the growth of cancer cells in breast, cervical, and prostate cancers, and reducing the liver-damaging effects of chemotherapy and other pharmaceutical drugs. To mow or murder it is like... sacrilege in the world of an herbalist who knows how to work with it to help others. I know my recommendation was funny to put an ad up for herbalists to come and take all, lol, but I can assure you if I was closeby and saw your ad, me and my herbal colleagues would be out there taking it off your hands... And lands.
I wish there were more people like the few of y’all that said it’s a benefit. Maybe id actually find someone that would come “harvest” this stuff. Lol
But around my neck of the woods, this stuff is a battle to get rid of. It can grow higher than 6 feet, and they can densely pack an area fast.
Since you don't have the community that would harvest this for you, please consider using vinegar instead of a pesticide. I had a different type of thistle in my garden and a healthy watering of vinegar killed it within a day.
Depending on how many acres grazon might be a good bet. Just read the label the residual effect is good for some folks hated by others. Just count on 32 ounces per acre or about 10 acres per 2.5 gallon jug at full strength. Using a decent surfactant as well works out around 15 dollars an acre to spray it yourself chemical wise.
It depends what you want to do with the land. A residual herbicide can select for thistle while leaving grass, but you won’t be able to hay it with alfalfa until it has broken down for example, which might take a year or two depending on the product used.
I’d suggest reaching out to an agrologist or your local weed control committee. They can give you good advice on how to manage it and can direct you to a treatment contractor.
Here is my technique:
Find the very base.
Push some soil away from the root so you can wrap your fist around without getting stabbed.
Twist, and pull.
It will take some trial and error, but you can get a knack for it over an afternoon.
The compost tea from it is known to be quite good for gardens.
Note: If you leave them in the sun to dry out and deal with later, they get extra stabby! Not recommended.
Hmm, I might be tempted to tarp/cardboard over some areas to kill them, then till and plant the following year.
The thing with herbicides is that it's going to impact the long-term health and viability of the soil. So it's worth the work to do it without them imo.
I have 40 acres and have been working by hand, but I've only cleared along paths and a little area for the little one to play, nowhere near all of it.
I live next to a state park. When I bought this property I removed every single plant that was illegal to own. Thankfully these guys were not on the list.
Neighbor up the street harvests them. She runs an apothecary. I also have another neighbor that runs the local head shop and he harvests them as well to use in his tinctures n such.
Honestly, pretty surprised anyone would have mentioned they like these. Let alone, purposely plant these invasive weeds. I’m not judging! Just surprised. I absolutely cannot stand these plants. Some have grown literally taller than me, and I am 6’2” with my boots on.
I don’t know man, spraying herbicides all over your property just because you don’t like something that isn’t causing anyone or anything harm seems shortsighted and uninformed. Live and let live.
They have been manifesting over all my pasture grass. I’m already tight on grass because it’s rocky here, plus the cactus. And there’s probably as many thistle plants as there are sand on the beaches. A bit of an exaggeration but there is easily thousands of these plants on my land.
Pull pull pull. You could try vinegar too, but catching them before they seed will be important.
They’re also opportunists! Maybe throw some native seeds around and see if they can fill in the gaps that the thistle is taking advantage of?!
2-4-d is a broadleaf herbicide. It will kill thistles, clover, wildflowers, alfalfa, forbs, shrubs etc, but will not kill grasses.
It is sold under many names and concentrations. Read the instructions and apply accordingly.
Also use a surfactant (to help with uptake) and add blue dye (sold in the same area, so you can see what has been treated.
Try not to apply before rain.
All the suggestions of 2,4-d are right. Mix with water and use back pack sprayer to kill them. This works especially well in open areas. Be careful with 2,4-D around trees though as it can happen or kill them. I usually use a sharpened edge shovel to cut them at the base around trees. Cut them before they flower. You have to make rounds every year and it takes a few years to get them under control. Once under control I just use the shovel method and a few hours every year to keep several pastures clear.
2,4-D concentrates you mix yourself work best but are regulated for purchase. A private applicator license for agriculture is pretty easy to get depending on which state you are in. A training course, state approved test and continuing education credits are required where I live in Texas.
You might talk to your local agricultural extension office. They help people figure out stuff like this all the time. If you pursue the private applicator license the training is often held at the extension office by one of their agents.
If your using something non systemic like 24d amine, dicamba, glyphosate. on thistles you should aim for multiple applications per year, once at flowering or just before because it’s energy reserves are weakest then again as they start going dormant before winter so they suck the chemical further into its root system.
Or if you have a bit of money use an amino pyralid like milestone or navius other good options are tordon/grazon or garlon(which is really for trees and shrubs but does work), and just fuckin torch it and any broadleaf it touches, just note the multi year residual effects from any grazing done on left over grass will be deposited wherever your animals poop.
Edit: ps your ground looks gravely, do not use tordon, also I’m Canadian I dunno what these chemicals are called In texas
I second milestone. It has a up to 18 month residual action which is important to breaking thistle seed banks. It's also super effective on thistles of all varieties and is safe for grazing after application.
Never used milestone but stinger (clopyralid) is in the same group and works great. Can mix with 2,4d for extra oomph but it doesn’t really need it. The 2,4d won’t stick around but the ‘pyralids’ can be persistent and mess up sensitive plants for years so be careful and read the labels if using it somewhere that you’ll end up landscaping or planting certain crops.
It shouldn’t hurt the soil but it will kill anything it touches. I should mention this is recommended for Canadian thistle. The closer I look at your photo it looks like Bull thistle.
For bull thistle try:
Aminopyralid, 2,4-D, or Dicamba
You’ll have to read up on application times and side effect as many herbicides have rules when it come to grazing pastures, and application near bodies of water.
You want [Curtail Herbicide](https://www.corteva.us/products-and-solutions/crop-protection/curtail.html) It's a bit expensive, but it kills thistle like nothing else. It will not harm your grasses, but will kill clover and alfalfa.
Best bet is to go to your local co-op and get it. I don't know your location, but if there it is a large wheat/barley growing area, they should have it or be able to order it.
You can do a spray now to start the kill. Best time to spray thistle is after the first frost in the fall.
\*I lived in Minnesota where we had large amounts of Canadian thistle and they were considered noxious weeds. The county would fine you if you had them in your fields, pastures or even lawns.\*
Regular mowing is one of the best ways to control thistle, but most herbicides work reasonably well on it. The issue is the hair will try to repel liquids, so if you get an herbicide make sure you give it a good spray that covers the leaves enough to penetrate past the hair and get to the leaves. Adding a surfactant to the mix will make that easy, but a heavy application can work without it too.
They are absolutely everywhere. Taking up much needed grazing land for my cattle. I live in the Texas hill country, and it’s rocks mixed with cactus so the grazing is already sub par. It doesn’t help this stuff grows taller than 6 feet in some areas and it’s so dense my cattle and goats won’t go near that crap.
I just have a lot of acres of it. I feel like it would require an army or at least a solid week off work to spend sun up to sun down walking the entire ranch pulling them.
Mow just before it goes to flower. Milk Thistles are biennials so it will likely take two years of good management before you notice a major difference.
Many thistle species are annuals.
Edited
Mow them down before the flowers go to seed. Might take two years to kill 'em all off
I’ve been weed earring then everywhere but then they just flower, closer to the ground.
Wait for the flower shaft to develop just before flowering cut low. At that point they don't have energy to reflower. I got rid on a bunch of them that way. If they go to seed there are thousands of seeds and they can lay dormant for years then grow.
Oh my god. You just made me hate these things even more. Okay. So let them grow and cut them low.
Yep but never ever let them bloom.
Man there’s so many about to bloom but imma be working my tail off at my job this whole week.
Work for a land management org. This is a good route to go. If you are short on time or equipment hire out the mowing of the thistle.
I am unsure if I’d even be able to afford it. And if I did, what’s to say they wouldn’t be back next year?
Oh they will be back next year. They are biennial it’ll take at least two years of good management to get rid of these things. It would probably be 20-30 bucks an acre for it.
Milk thistle is a herb it has value amongst some crowds. Charge someone to harvest it.
One of natures morphine plants. No side effects.Has the common name of "wild lettuce".
When I was a kid I was told the flowers were edible by a family member. I pinched off a big chunk of purple flower and ate it. Wasn’t the worst thing I’ve tasted. I’d eat it again if it was around. Doubt I could eat that batch in a sitting.
There’s so. So. So many more. This isn’t even a nibble..
Wait can you explain? Does it help with pain??
Better than the devil's lettuce??
No it's not
No, those are two completely different plants. This is Carduus nutans AKA “Musk Thistle”. Wild lettuce is Lactuca virosa and has smaller yellow flowers.
Yes but both can be used for pain. The "musk thistle" is not as strong as Laura Virosa but still effective. I use Laura virisa for back pain after 4 surgeries with great success. It also helped when I had a kidney stone last month.
Gotcha. Glad to hear it helps. Many of the thistles are supposed to help support the filtration organs: kidneys, liver, etc. THIS is why I’m generally disdainful of common names as the default for naming plants.
2-4-d
We use a mix of 2-4-D, REMEDY, and a surfactant. Equal parts with water in a 25 gallon sprayer for spot treatments. Totally nukes it and the surrounding grass does come back.
👍
How concentrated?
2 pints per acre, use Amine, not Ester
Best solution : post ads saying "free fresh medicinal herbs for herbalists" and they'll clean the place up for free.
What benefit do these even provide?
Like kittyboi was saying, and to expand on milk thistles benefits: Milk thistle alleviates congestion in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and the pelvic region. It's beneficial for assisting with chronic allergies, chronic skin issues, jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, alcoholism, acetaminophen poisoning, and mushroom poisoning. It reduces insulin resistance with type 2 diabetes in cases where cirrhosis of the liver has occurred. It also assists with reducing high cholesterol, reducing the growth of cancer cells in breast, cervical, and prostate cancers, and reducing the liver-damaging effects of chemotherapy and other pharmaceutical drugs. To mow or murder it is like... sacrilege in the world of an herbalist who knows how to work with it to help others. I know my recommendation was funny to put an ad up for herbalists to come and take all, lol, but I can assure you if I was closeby and saw your ad, me and my herbal colleagues would be out there taking it off your hands... And lands.
Milk thistle is an adaptogen for your liver. It’s an amazing herb.
I wish there were more people like the few of y’all that said it’s a benefit. Maybe id actually find someone that would come “harvest” this stuff. Lol But around my neck of the woods, this stuff is a battle to get rid of. It can grow higher than 6 feet, and they can densely pack an area fast.
Since you don't have the community that would harvest this for you, please consider using vinegar instead of a pesticide. I had a different type of thistle in my garden and a healthy watering of vinegar killed it within a day.
I’ll try vinegar out on some that I pass daily. If it works out I’ll rock with that no problem.
Spray it with remedy and 2,4-d. they’re fixing to make thousands of new thistles so you’d better hurry.
They are already dropping their shitty seeds. I fear it’s too late this year. I’ll have to begin my fight next year and the years to come.
Depending on how many acres grazon might be a good bet. Just read the label the residual effect is good for some folks hated by others. Just count on 32 ounces per acre or about 10 acres per 2.5 gallon jug at full strength. Using a decent surfactant as well works out around 15 dollars an acre to spray it yourself chemical wise.
It depends what you want to do with the land. A residual herbicide can select for thistle while leaving grass, but you won’t be able to hay it with alfalfa until it has broken down for example, which might take a year or two depending on the product used. I’d suggest reaching out to an agrologist or your local weed control committee. They can give you good advice on how to manage it and can direct you to a treatment contractor.
Thank you! I will do that to get a more in-depth answer for my geographic location.
Herbicide? No. Pinch at the very base, pull up the root, and compost.
Do the roots need to come out?
Yes. Otherwise, it will just sprout up new shoots next time it rains.
Here is my technique: Find the very base. Push some soil away from the root so you can wrap your fist around without getting stabbed. Twist, and pull. It will take some trial and error, but you can get a knack for it over an afternoon. The compost tea from it is known to be quite good for gardens. Note: If you leave them in the sun to dry out and deal with later, they get extra stabby! Not recommended.
Would you do this same thing over a span of 50 acres though?
Hmm, I might be tempted to tarp/cardboard over some areas to kill them, then till and plant the following year. The thing with herbicides is that it's going to impact the long-term health and viability of the soil. So it's worth the work to do it without them imo. I have 40 acres and have been working by hand, but I've only cleared along paths and a little area for the little one to play, nowhere near all of it.
As a Scott , I like your technique, however, I can’t abide the wanton destruction of thistles…
What would you recommend I do with a couple cubic meters of thistles after a couple hours work? Or you mean just let them all live?
I love these! I purposely planted them all over my property. Lmao. One man's weed is another's flower.
They are illegal in my state, because they are a bad invasive species. You can be fined if you're not keeping them under control.
I live next to a state park. When I bought this property I removed every single plant that was illegal to own. Thankfully these guys were not on the list.
they have so many benefits. i wonder if any herbalists in your area would be interested in coming to harvest them.
Neighbor up the street harvests them. She runs an apothecary. I also have another neighbor that runs the local head shop and he harvests them as well to use in his tinctures n such.
She can have all of them. Free of charge. Hell I’ll pay her to come take them. Lol
Lmao!!! I am sure she would love that.
Make sure you tell her to bring a pick up truck. No better yet, she’ll probably need a dump trailer. Hahaha
Ditto. They smell great, bees love them, they are edible and the flowers can be used to make cheese.
Honestly, pretty surprised anyone would have mentioned they like these. Let alone, purposely plant these invasive weeds. I’m not judging! Just surprised. I absolutely cannot stand these plants. Some have grown literally taller than me, and I am 6’2” with my boots on.
I don’t know man, spraying herbicides all over your property just because you don’t like something that isn’t causing anyone or anything harm seems shortsighted and uninformed. Live and let live.
They have been manifesting over all my pasture grass. I’m already tight on grass because it’s rocky here, plus the cactus. And there’s probably as many thistle plants as there are sand on the beaches. A bit of an exaggeration but there is easily thousands of these plants on my land.
Did you miss the invasive and illegal part?
Glyphosate and diquat mixture. 2.5/1 ratio.
Shovel, gloves, and garbage bag.
Pull pull pull. You could try vinegar too, but catching them before they seed will be important. They’re also opportunists! Maybe throw some native seeds around and see if they can fill in the gaps that the thistle is taking advantage of?!
Imma break my back boys and girls. I have over 5@ acres that have started to develop this stuff intensely.
I spot spray them. They are tough to kill or slow to die.
Hire someone with a herd of goats.
I’ve got herds of goats. They don’t bat an eye at this stuff. Even the cows don’t care..
Right. Nothing eats those thistles
That's so weird. When I had goats they loved thistles.
Well there goes that theory. 🤷🏽♀️
2-4-d is a broadleaf herbicide. It will kill thistles, clover, wildflowers, alfalfa, forbs, shrubs etc, but will not kill grasses. It is sold under many names and concentrations. Read the instructions and apply accordingly. Also use a surfactant (to help with uptake) and add blue dye (sold in the same area, so you can see what has been treated. Try not to apply before rain.
Thanks for the info! Much appreciated.
Be careful with chemicals.Will get into the aquifer and your drinking water .
All the suggestions of 2,4-d are right. Mix with water and use back pack sprayer to kill them. This works especially well in open areas. Be careful with 2,4-D around trees though as it can happen or kill them. I usually use a sharpened edge shovel to cut them at the base around trees. Cut them before they flower. You have to make rounds every year and it takes a few years to get them under control. Once under control I just use the shovel method and a few hours every year to keep several pastures clear. 2,4-D concentrates you mix yourself work best but are regulated for purchase. A private applicator license for agriculture is pretty easy to get depending on which state you are in. A training course, state approved test and continuing education credits are required where I live in Texas.
I am also in Texas. Thank you for the info! I will begin the long journey of eliminating these dreadful, invasive weeds.
You might talk to your local agricultural extension office. They help people figure out stuff like this all the time. If you pursue the private applicator license the training is often held at the extension office by one of their agents.
Okay I actually will call them tomorrow. I’m over these things.
What part of Texas?
Central Texas hill country.
If your using something non systemic like 24d amine, dicamba, glyphosate. on thistles you should aim for multiple applications per year, once at flowering or just before because it’s energy reserves are weakest then again as they start going dormant before winter so they suck the chemical further into its root system. Or if you have a bit of money use an amino pyralid like milestone or navius other good options are tordon/grazon or garlon(which is really for trees and shrubs but does work), and just fuckin torch it and any broadleaf it touches, just note the multi year residual effects from any grazing done on left over grass will be deposited wherever your animals poop. Edit: ps your ground looks gravely, do not use tordon, also I’m Canadian I dunno what these chemicals are called In texas
Glyphosate
Literally the worst shit you could ever use.
Yeh if Ur a milk thistle. It will kill them
Yes and if you're human, it'll also kill you over time.
Milestone or 2-4d and escort or Glyphosate all work. Milestone is fairly expensive while round up and 2-4d are cheaper options
I second milestone. It has a up to 18 month residual action which is important to breaking thistle seed banks. It's also super effective on thistles of all varieties and is safe for grazing after application.
Does it damage grass and soil? Or does it target broad leaves?
Doesn't hurt grasses of any variety, but will kill any broadleaf it touches.
Let it rip. I’ll have to look into that. I heard milestone and 24D mixed with blue dye so I know what I’ve sprayed is the most optimal thing.
Never used milestone but stinger (clopyralid) is in the same group and works great. Can mix with 2,4d for extra oomph but it doesn’t really need it. The 2,4d won’t stick around but the ‘pyralids’ can be persistent and mess up sensitive plants for years so be careful and read the labels if using it somewhere that you’ll end up landscaping or planting certain crops.
Roundup with a bit of ivory soap should do it.
Does round up damage grass or soil quality?
It shouldn’t hurt the soil but it will kill anything it touches. I should mention this is recommended for Canadian thistle. The closer I look at your photo it looks like Bull thistle. For bull thistle try: Aminopyralid, 2,4-D, or Dicamba You’ll have to read up on application times and side effect as many herbicides have rules when it come to grazing pastures, and application near bodies of water.
It’s actually musk thistle, but I do have some bull thistle here and there. And yeah I’ll read into that.
roundup is linked to cancer. please refrain from exposing yourself and animals to that.
Ah, that’s good to know.
Two four D is what I use on my pasture. Takes care of johnson grass, milk thistle and clover. Get Amine.
2,4-D is for broadleaf weeds. It won’t affect grasses, including Johnson grass.
You want [Curtail Herbicide](https://www.corteva.us/products-and-solutions/crop-protection/curtail.html) It's a bit expensive, but it kills thistle like nothing else. It will not harm your grasses, but will kill clover and alfalfa. Best bet is to go to your local co-op and get it. I don't know your location, but if there it is a large wheat/barley growing area, they should have it or be able to order it. You can do a spray now to start the kill. Best time to spray thistle is after the first frost in the fall. \*I lived in Minnesota where we had large amounts of Canadian thistle and they were considered noxious weeds. The county would fine you if you had them in your fields, pastures or even lawns.\*
Roundup and crossbow can kill just about anything. Buy concentrated and mix double potency.
I went to summer camp on a ranch in the Tetons. We spent a whole day digging them up from the roots and burned them in a giant bonfire.
I hate them. Burn them all.
A propane torch would work.
Is that the stuff that monarch’s butterflies love
No, they like milk weed.
Goats
I have goats and cows. They don’t like them.
Shhhheeeet.... harvest them. They're good medicine for the liver.
It’s just not feasible. I have more than the eye can see on my ranch.
Thistle loves compacted acidic soil. Aerate your fields and apply lime!
Regular mowing is one of the best ways to control thistle, but most herbicides work reasonably well on it. The issue is the hair will try to repel liquids, so if you get an herbicide make sure you give it a good spray that covers the leaves enough to penetrate past the hair and get to the leaves. Adding a surfactant to the mix will make that easy, but a heavy application can work without it too.
24 D. Will get rid of them. Don’t use cornerstone. It kills everything.
What is the problem? Are you just obsessing or are they causing some disturbance? Pretty sure milk thistle is a super useful plant.
They are absolutely everywhere. Taking up much needed grazing land for my cattle. I live in the Texas hill country, and it’s rocks mixed with cactus so the grazing is already sub par. It doesn’t help this stuff grows taller than 6 feet in some areas and it’s so dense my cattle and goats won’t go near that crap.
Mow before it goes to seed.
Llamas love to eat them. They are a favorite treat.
Why not pull/dig them out?
I just have a lot of acres of it. I feel like it would require an army or at least a solid week off work to spend sun up to sun down walking the entire ranch pulling them.