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Thistles
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Annette H

Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 245
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Sun May 23, 10 10:57 am Post subject:

Mr O wrote:

Grazon, or is it Grazeon? Good stuff for doc's an thistles.

Thats what we use, Grazon 90. we used to top them but there were more and more of them every year. I do them with the backpack now. Grazon gets rid of docks, nettles and bramble too

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun May 23, 10 11:09 am Post subject:

judith wrote:

If only the nettles were as easy to deal with!

Cattle love them and they're a great mineral source for them. I used to cut and wilt them but since strip grazing I haven't needed to. They still need the thistles cutting before they'll eat them, though.

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Sun May 23, 10 11:18 am Post subject:
We had a pony here for a few years who really helped with out battle. She would delicately eat the flowers off each thistle just before they were in full flower....... Other ponies didn't touch them though.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue May 25, 10 8:33 am Post subject:

The traditional way, is to cut them in June and hope for one of our normal wet summers. The idea being, that rains enters the open stalk and rots the roots.
I'm not sure that it works but thats the idea behind the strategy. It may very well rank alongside other pieces of old countryside law such as finding babies under gooseberry bushes of course.

On our ground, I leave the big thistles for the wildlife but wage war against the creeping thistles.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 25, 10 8:52 am Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

judith wrote:

If only the nettles were as easy to deal with!

Could you loan me a cow for a few days please?

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 10 5:11 pm Post subject:

Been chopping thistles today...was told a ryhme that said cut in june cut too soon cut in july say goodbye..if you just take the tops off before they have flowered they regrow like mad...wait till the flowers are out and they wont try again...we spade into the root cutting just below the ground and the n pull when they wont give thiersleves up easily...never know what to do with them...perhaps the next door neighbour cows would eat them if I put them over the fence....
the sheep love cut nettles...have harvested and hung them for an early winter treat along with the hay ..nettles are good for them but only eat them when cut.

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 10 7:49 pm Post subject:
Homemade weed killer - I cut mine down but it may work on the uncut plant - it will l kill any plant it touches though so be accurate with the spray

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 10 8:43 pm Post subject:
Pigs love them, especially the roots. Goats will take them down to ground level. Am I a bad smallholder to admit I actually leave some alone to run to seed. I love watching the goldfinches with beaks full of thistle down.

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 10 9:13 pm Post subject:
If you become too thistle infested here in France though you can get a letter from your local mayor telling you to tidy them up. I too love watching the goldfinches so always leave a few around

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 10 8:54 am Post subject:

I leave thistles ,brambles, nettles in areas where I do not want for camping etc...we are lucky enough to have plenty for everyone,,,the bees butterflies and as you say goldfinches all love them. With more visitors to the "Nature Reserve" with thier dogs etc at the bottom of our lane,we feel we have the privalege of being the real sanctuary for nature and are rewarded for it by these splendid visitors to the farm.

Nell Merionwen

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 16300
Location: Beautiful Derbyshire

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 10 9:05 am Post subject:

Ginkotree wrote:

I have seen the most remarkable and beautiful sites wandering Ginkotree's farm. it's a magical place....
bit like the lady that owns it.

ksia

Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 2320
Location: Mayenne, France

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 10 9:09 am Post subject:

Tavascarow wrote:

Pigs love them, especially the roots.
Goats will take them down to ground level.
Am I a bad smallholder to admit I actually leave some alone to run to seed.
I love watching the goldfinches with beaks full of thistle down.

They're lovely aren't they?

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 10 9:01 pm Post subject:
The goldfinches are definately lovely......and I sometimes have my moments

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 10 9:09 pm Post subject:
I know it's not a popular view, but I saw the most wonderful stand of big purple musk thistles this evening. The goldfinches will love them in the Autumn.

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 10 9:10 pm Post subject:
I love thistles and would happily keep them - but I don't think they go too well in the play area

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