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Re: Canada Thistle/L.Sullivan

Cliff,

As I try to figure out how to best approach the Prairie maintenance long
term, I wonder if it might be reasonable to employ a small army of high
school kids to hand pull or top off the thistle so at least the seed is
controlled and the plants can be kept in check.  They might learn a little
about ecology and  earn some spending money and I would save my back and
hands.  Economically, I'm better off working a few extra hours a week to pay
for it that to spend many more hours in the prairie myself.

Another question came to mind, I have some Burdock patches that get
completely matted with those huge leaves.  I hack or pull those plants
fairly easily but the natives are sparse in those patches.  Will the natives
out compete the burdock fairly quickly?

Also, what I thought was wild parsnip, is actually Zizia aurea.  I'm glad I
did not start pulling that right away!

Larry

P.S.  I infer from your comments that you are a retired Physician.  I am a
neurologist practicing in West Bend, WI in a primary care clinic setting.  I
trained in Denver.  Is Keasly (sp?) Welsch (as I recall he was/is in Detroit
or U of M, I believe he has done research in headache) related to you?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clifford Welsch" <welsch@pilot.msu.edu>
To: <prairie@mallorn.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 8:29 AM
Subject: Canada Thistle/L.Sullivan


> Lawrence:
>      In response to your additional questions to me, I can offer the
> following.  Your idea of seeding Big Bluestem and Indian Grass into
patches
> of Canada Thistle is good!  If such patches have many native forbs, I
would
> lightly disk the patch and hand seed followed by raking to cover seeds (in
> early spring).  If the patch has few or no native forbs, I would spray the
> patch with a 2,4-D derivative, then seed as above.  Regarding my
preference
> for the type of 2,4-D derivative, the most efficacious (albeit, one of the
> most expensive) in my experience has been Chaser Turf Herbicide (United
> Horticultural Supply) but less expensive 2,4-D derivatives (esters and
> amines) are also effective on this alien plant.  You mentioned Roundup (I
> use Roundup Ultra with no additional chemical additives).  It is more
> effective on Canada Thistle then are the 2,4-D derivatives but, obviously
> will kill your native C4 grasses.  Applying Roundup to single individual
> plants of a clone of Canada Thistle, while conceptually attractive, in my
> experience has not been effective.  You are correct, "after 3 to 4 years
it
> will be self sustaining" is rarely ever true; such is profoundly
influenced
> by the amount and type of non-native plants and the soil type.  Success to
> you!
> Cliff
> (Clifford W. Welsch)
> P.S. Parenthetically, the UW-Madison has always been one of my favorite
> academic institutions; during my medical career in Michigan I was
fortunate
> to be invited to the UW-Madison campus on a number of occasions to lecture
> in the medical field, a dynamic institution to say the least!
>
>
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