I'm slowly getting the thistles under control. Instead of broadcast spraying this year I'm trying to spot spray in the fall. We've had a couple of nights at about 29 degrees, but no other frosts/freezes. Common wisdom is to spray after a light frost, but not a hard frost. I saw a letter from an extension service, but not in SD (PA, I believe) that said if they are green and look healthy spraying will be effective.
What about an area where they are mixed. Some small healthy looking, but half or more curling at the edges and or turning yellow due to the fall? Does it make sense to spray the healthy looking ones or am I wasting my time (since I'll need to come back and get them all next year anyway. I'll never get them all, so should I go ahead and hit the growing ones? I'm not sure if they are Canada Thistle, or "other". Several years ago I was told that I had no Canada Thistle by somebody I believe, but that was then and I can't tell the difference.
Also, what is the plant on right in this photo? The ones on the left are what I'm calling "thistle". The top looks more like an Oak leaf (but it's a thistle-like plant and has a few spikes). I've been just hitting these also. Should I keep doing that or leave them alone?
Current plan (and for the last few years) has been to mow in the spring (June or so) before the thistles get flowers, then spray in the fall.
Thanks
What about an area where they are mixed. Some small healthy looking, but half or more curling at the edges and or turning yellow due to the fall? Does it make sense to spray the healthy looking ones or am I wasting my time (since I'll need to come back and get them all next year anyway. I'll never get them all, so should I go ahead and hit the growing ones? I'm not sure if they are Canada Thistle, or "other". Several years ago I was told that I had no Canada Thistle by somebody I believe, but that was then and I can't tell the difference.
Also, what is the plant on right in this photo? The ones on the left are what I'm calling "thistle". The top looks more like an Oak leaf (but it's a thistle-like plant and has a few spikes). I've been just hitting these also. Should I keep doing that or leave them alone?
Current plan (and for the last few years) has been to mow in the spring (June or so) before the thistles get flowers, then spray in the fall.
Thanks