Re: CULT: Round-Up

John Montgomery wrote:
> 
[snip]
> Several years ago, we had what seemed like an emergency situation in the spring
> when a great many Canada Thistle showed up in several places in the iris field. I
> realized that it was not the ideal time for killing thistle but I saw little
> alternative and sprayed 2% Roundup solution over the top.(Roundup is generally
> used at 1% except for things like thistle). It got almost all of the thistle but
> it was slow. 

John, I battle Canada & giant Musk Thistles on my mtn every year, from
thaw to full snow coverage. BUT I DON'T SPRAY, I "dribble" -- I have a
jug with a sort of swan-neck tube on the end & I dribble Roundup
liberally onto the fiends I want to eliminate. If I find 'em in the
rosette stage, I dribble right into the center -- if they've already
become tall plants, I thoroughly soak the largest leaves &, if they're
in flower, the blossoms. Takes about a week to 10 days for the systemic
to enter the roots & kill the plant but then it's dead, dead, dead. I've
also heard of people who slather Roundup on with a 1" paint brush --
point is to target the weeds directly & not risk overspray or
wind-drift. I found the swan-neck thingy at a warehouse store (Home
Base, as I recall) & it screws onto a plastic gallon milk jug.

Roundup is the only thing I've found that will kill these thistles as
even the smallest piece of root left behind will grow. Also, the seeds
develop in some flowers before ALL the flowers on a plant have formed so
seeds can be scattered for a very long time. The reason I have to do
battle every year is that seeds are blown onto my property from
surrounding areas where owners have given up or are not even trying to
control these beasties, which have become a serious problem thruout the
East Slope foothills & plains.

BTW, using the dribble method, I've been able to kill thistles that
snuck into flower beds with zero signs of damage to desirable plants
(including irises) growing nearly cheek to jowl with the bad guys. Works
on giant dandelions, too. Of course spraying would be faster than
dribbling or painting, but this method eliminates secondary damage so I
think it's worth the time.

Marte in the mtns	Zone 4/Sunset 1  Colorado
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