Well I do know a thing or two about killing thistles, as it is my bread and butter?
By cutting the plant in the bud stage you stop seed production and you do throw the plant into the rosette stage, which is a perfect stage for eradication.
By using a product like Roundup Transorb at this stage you are not going to control the problem like you would later. However you are also limiting the competition and I would suggest you would be creating a perfect seed bed for new emerging thistles?
A product like Graze on or Ally will get those "rosette type thistles as well as any seeds or regrowth the next year. The trick is to lay down a residue.
Timely grazing in early June is fairly effective at reducing thistles. Mowing is an awfully expensive and time consuming operation in my experience...maybe not worth the effort unless the thistle population is out of control.
Buckbrush has become a major problem in the eastern portion of Red Deer County. It literally makes the pasture useless as it covers everything and the cattle won't venture into it. These are mostly large very rough pastures where economics dictate a very cheap management system. The carrying capacity is not large due to poor sandy soil and lack of moisture. Buckbrush and absinthe seem to find this a very good place to thrive and if not controlled will soon render the whole pasture useless. Cheapest and most economical way of control is spraying...sometimes so rough you need some pretty specialized equipment.
By cutting the plant in the bud stage you stop seed production and you do throw the plant into the rosette stage, which is a perfect stage for eradication.
By using a product like Roundup Transorb at this stage you are not going to control the problem like you would later. However you are also limiting the competition and I would suggest you would be creating a perfect seed bed for new emerging thistles?
A product like Graze on or Ally will get those "rosette type thistles as well as any seeds or regrowth the next year. The trick is to lay down a residue.
Timely grazing in early June is fairly effective at reducing thistles. Mowing is an awfully expensive and time consuming operation in my experience...maybe not worth the effort unless the thistle population is out of control.
Buckbrush has become a major problem in the eastern portion of Red Deer County. It literally makes the pasture useless as it covers everything and the cattle won't venture into it. These are mostly large very rough pastures where economics dictate a very cheap management system. The carrying capacity is not large due to poor sandy soil and lack of moisture. Buckbrush and absinthe seem to find this a very good place to thrive and if not controlled will soon render the whole pasture useless. Cheapest and most economical way of control is spraying...sometimes so rough you need some pretty specialized equipment.
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