Don’t let thistles limit grazing
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As we get into summer, thistles become an increasingly unsightly and unwelcome presence in our grazing pastures.
As well as being unattractive, thistles reduce a ley’s productivity, restrict access to grass and cause issues such as orf in sheep.
Both creeping and spear varieties are often seen causing problems at this time of year, and can adversely affect livestock’s energy and protein levels, according to Dave Gurney, Corteva’s Field Technical Manager for grassland crop protection.
He said: “Creeping thistle is a perennial and can grow up to 150cm in height. It forms extensive underground lateral rooting systems at a soil depth of 20 to 30 cm which send up numerous erect shoots during the growing season.
“It spreads underground horizontally by 1 to 2m per year via its root system producing many offshoots. These roots are very brittle and easily break into fragments which grow into new plants. This, coupled with the mode of spread, makes it hard to control, made worse this spring by poached ground.”
Spear thistle, however, is biennial and usually grows to 30 to 150 cm tall. It is spiny and has a very deep tap root with each plant producing up to 8,000 seeds which can remain viable for three years.
Mr Gurney continued: “If not controlled, both species will continue to expand their presence as a consequence of seeding along with root extension.”
Both types of root system mean successful long-term control will only come from powerful, selective herbicides such as Forefront® T which destroys the weeds by killing the roots following translocation to the root tips.
“At this time of year, thistles are producing seed heads which does not help the herbicide translocate around the plant and into the roots,” said Mr Gurney. “It is usually best practice to top flowering thistles and spray the regrowth once they have emerged at the rosette stage while stem extension is mainly below the tops of your Wellingtons.”
For more information visit corteva.co.uk/crops/grassland
ENDS
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