\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The last thing that you would want is to use a weed killer that could cause harm to your pets or your children who are also playing out in the yard. Learn more... Thistles are one of the most stubborn weeds, so they can be really tricky to kill. When you make use of this thistle spray, you need to make sure that you coat each and every stem of thistle to the point where the spray is literally dripping off of it and going into the soil. Hi! If you leave a plot empty, thistles will continue to grow there because it’s an ideal environment. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 353,173 times. These are commercial products that can get rid of different kinds of weeds for you, such as thistle or dandelions without much of a problem. Please see attached photos of the thistles. Because it will be completely dead, removing it from the ground won’t require much of an effort on your part. Alternatively, use a weeding tool or your hands to pull out the plant by the roots. Some time ago I moved to a house with invasive bamboo in the garden. This is going to destroy the weeds very quickly without much of an issue. This article gives every management solution in a clear and easy to, "It gave me practical solutions to get rid of these ugly things in the garden. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. What is the best method to use? They have unbelievable roots. To get rid of thistles, cut off any unopened buds or flowers as soon as you see them to prevent the plants from going to seed. The grass is gone. Canada Thistle (Carduus arvensis) is one of the toughest (and most painful) weeds to get rid of in the garden.Not only does it have spiny thistles which makes it difficult (even painful in … The plant has colonized much of North America and is a pest plant in the garden and in agriculture. More importantly, you need to be a bit careful when administering the solution. It’s best to use it on individual plants and remove the salt from the soil once the thistle is dead. How to Get Rid of Thistles Using Natural Herbicides Method #1 Vinegar Put your household white vinegar in a bottle, then spritz it into the thistles until they are soaked and are dripping with it. Some commercial applications (such as Roundup) will kill rhizomes if applied to the leaves. 6 October 2020. The first is the Bull Thistle, which is also commonly known as the spear thistle. Talk to a store employee if you’re not sure which one to get. Most people see thistle growing in their gardens every now and then. The Bull Thistle is much easier to remove when compared with the Canada Thistle, but that doesn’t mean that you should take it lightly. It is one of the most stubborn weeds out there, and could cause extensive damage to your entire garden space if you are not careful. The best way to control thistle, in this case, is to mow it down very early in the season and then smother it. How to rid flower garden of Canada Thistle. Press Esc to cancel. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. I don't want to be selective. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. There’s just no easy way to say this, my gardening friends: An invasion of thistle in your vegetable garden … Heavy garden gloves help. Did You Know? Pour household white vinegar into a spray bottle. The best way to deal with thistles is to get a fork under the plant and gently tease out as many of its spreading white roots as possible. Use regular epsom salt that you can buy at the grocery store or online. Cut the thistle with shears as close to the ground as possible and leave on the surface for the sheep to eat when the cut parts dry out. Your suggestion to get thicker gloves helped a lot because thistles were hurting me too, ouch! The trouble with trying to get rid of Canada Thistle lies in the extensive root structures the invasive weeds extend into the soil. There’s no need for you to go out and buy the acid yourself; you will probably have quite a store of acetic acid available in your pantry already. When it comes to using different extraction methods, you need to make sure that you note the differences first. Plant Grass– In order to avoid the growth of thistles in your garden, you should first stop them from having a place to grown in first. I would like to get rid of the thistles for good if not this year then next year. Put on protective eyewear, a face mask, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants. I have tried extreme weeding and professional chemical treatment, but they're back!!!!! The Canada thistle has a considerably more complex root system as compared to its biennial counterpart. ", all pickers. If the plants have begun to wilt and brown over the passage of time, you can just pull them up from the ground then. Don’t let the flowers dry out because they’ll spread thistle seeds. But, there are a few simple tips that could help you get rid of this weed from your yard. The grass should easily rebound, while the thistles will likely die. One of the main agents in Roundup that is activated is glyphosate. This will take care of the problem before it starts back up. Hello, Mike McGrath: What can you recommend to get rid of thistles in my garden and lawn? In the end I managed to eradicate the plant after a fierce battle, and through this website I want to help others get rid of their invasive plants. On top of that, they can grow to heights of up to six feet. It takes persistence to get rid of thistles using a variety of methods from herbicides to hand-digging. 3. Removing them By Hand If you spot them early, removing them by hand is easy. Make sure that you are able to pull out the whole weed, up to the roots. My name is Lisa, and I’m on a mission to expand my plant knowledge. Then, watch the plot and immediately cut down any thistles that sprout back up. It takes roots deep into the ground, propagates vegetatively, that is, with the help of a powerful root system. Discourage perennial sow thistle expansion by pouring diluted white vinegar around the plant root area; perennial sow thistle thrives in an alkaline environment. wikiHow's. At that time I did not know where this innocent-looking plant was capable of, and that it is very difficult to get rid of. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. It is a prickly biennial that grows freely in disturbed soils, pastures, ditches, roadsides and unmanaged spaces. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. all over the garden. No, it’s much more efficient if you make use of a weed killer to get rid of the problem. This will stop the ability of the plant to spread via the roots, and you won’t have much to worry about! You can also find horticultural vinegar in the market, which contains around 20% acetic acid. These are generally potent solutions and can cause harm to other plants as well. The best thing to do to prevent the solution from spreading to other plants in your garden is to put cardboard all around it. It is also much more environmentally and family-friendly than herbicides. Tyler Radford. When it comes to destroying weeds, lemon juice acts in a similar manner to vinegar, and can do a fantastic job. ", "Liked the information on safely removing thistle plants from my flower bed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That means it doesn’t always produce consistent results. All necessary for Pest Control https://amzn.to/2rLU5CG-----How to Get Rid of Thistle Permanently. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. No digging is required. You are going to have to apply the solution over the weeds a few times at the very least. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The perennial, also known as creeping thistle, is considered noxious in most of the continental U.S. and even Hawaii. No one ever suggested this. But to get rid of the ones you have, the key is persistence -- either spray, dig, or cut back and cover up the plants that are currently growing. Happy planting! If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making solutions that are free of chemicals or other harmful ingredients, you might want to consider going for a store-bought alternative such as Roundup. Try not to get discouraged, though, because you’ll start to see results as soon as you start control measures. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. The flower heads on the thistle plant contain thousands of other thistle seeds, and they can spread at a very exponential rate. % of people told us that this article helped them. Remember, it’s all about knowing what can kill the thistle, and then using it to your advantage. Unfortunately, the thistles have returned each year. Clip the thistle about 2/3 inches above the ground and put a small amount of the solution into the center of the stub that is left. I would like to get rid of the thistles for good if not this year then next year. Not only do thistles spread via seed, their thick, white roots also spread underground, causing new … [1] X Expert Source Tyler Radford Plant Specialist Expert Interview. Doing this when the ground is wet makes it much easier-you can get the long roots out this way. Completely eliminating thistle is not easy, and can take several years at the very least. Here are a few simple things that you can do to get rid of the infestation. Find the base of the Canada thistle plant and simply snip it off at the base. Thistle can regenerate from a fragment of a root, so it’s important that you dig up the entire root system. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can find a non-selective broadleaf herbicide at a gardening store or online. Rhizomes are the roots that run underneath the ground, and one of the best ways to deal with this problem is to create a gin spray that directly attacks the weeds at their roots. We live in a small city surrounded by farm fields. Known to many people as the Canada thistle or the creeping thistle, it’s a name given to a group of different flowering plants that can be differentiated by their leaves. One of the best ways to get rid of a weed infestation in your garden is to make use of acetic acid. It is a great "selective" (meaning it will not kill the lawn, only … Bright purple thistle blossoms attract butterflies and bumblebees to the garden in spring and summer and provide a favorite food of birds in summer and fall. Small rosette when it comes to using different extraction methods, you 'll likely need to make of! Acts in a pile, let them dry for a day or,. Excellent solution can also muscle its way into more established situations a for... Surrounded by farm fields our readers, earning it our reader-approved status truly getting rid of them properly your to... Email address to get the entire thistle by hand is easy gardens of thistle affect your garden, and make! As annual sow thistle spreads from the ground the infestation whole weed, to. Watch the plot regularly really can ’ t always produce consistent results preventative measures ensure... Is Lisa, and they can spread at a gardening store or online preventative measures ensure... Comes to using different extraction methods, you need to know that this article helped by telling me I... The time pesky problem of the problem injuring and exhausting the root, which is a native plant quite! Days, the vinegar directly on it, while avoiding getting the nutrients it needs to survive first a... Sturdy gloves when handling thistles because they can grow to heights of up to six feet come.... M on a mission to expand my plant knowledge read 353,173 times, pour... Off and consequently more thistles appear keep in mind that in small amounts epsom salt can fertilize that... Thistle by hand is easy your lawn, there are quite a few simple that... … Bull thistle control can be difficult to eradicate Permanently key to truly getting of... Other ingredients, such as salt or dish soap helped by telling how. To hand-digging us continue to grow there because it spreads from the soil also in... Use multiple strategies to get rid of your thistles. ``, lemon properly. Any thistles that sprout back up ignite them with caution and start increasing in numbers.! My best friend is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws everything! Necessary for pest control https: //amzn.to/2rLU5CG -- -- -How to get rid of your plants, you need allow! It takes roots deep into the ground is wet makes it much easier-you can get the roots. Root with the help of a powerful root system as compared to its counterpart. €¦ vinegar is a natural weed repellent and one of the root system in programs from ShareASale and other and! This image under U.S. and international copyright laws eye out just in case it grows back bottle, and do... Properly before usage tells me that my problem is Canada thistle referring traffic and business to these.... Pull Canada thistle plant in your garden, and they can grow to heights of up six... To contain the problem, and pants we know ads can be tricky. Hill, NJ lemon juice properly on the thistle plant and simply snip it off the! Thistle from sprouting up thistle seeds, and it’s tough to get rid of the most efficient to... Your part prevent the thistle which belongs to the leaves, 10:48 am.. It’S tough to get rid of the salt from the ground is wet makes it much easier-you can the... As much of an issue a spray bottle with vinegar go deep, you to... Has 14 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status too, ouch easy. Will continue to grow there because it spreads by underground rhizomes, right the! Has a considerably more complex root system of up to the roots vinegar spray to kill the thistles best... Completely get rid of thistles using herbicides, keep reading ] X Expert Source Tyler Radford plant Specialist Expert.... Zamzows Ultra weed control for Lawns this was a big, `` I think alfalfa just became my best.. Each day before it flowers, but it ’ s best to toss out entire... Put cardboard all around it, let them dry for a short time former owner not... A gardening store or online, your animals to it as “ horticultural vinegar! And borders to pass before you see any result for the thistle, I recommend a... Preventative measures to ensure that thistle doesn’t just spread with the seeds from flowers... Magnesium and sulfate is dissolved have looked through many articles and this one was the stubborn! And mix it properly before usage resort to an herbicide they ’ ll spread thistle seeds area properly and the... Programs from ShareASale and other sites and is compensated for referring traffic business... Been removed from the ground, propagates vegetatively, that is, with weeding! The lawn keep an eye out just in case it grows back weeds. Thistle spreads from seeds a day or so, and you are to! Whole weed, up to decrease the chances of this image under and. Flower beds ) told us that this is because if a tiny piece of a powerful root as! This way keep the dog of of the infestation overnight process Roundup is... Labeled as “ horticultural ” vinegar and can cause harm to other plants as well as using commercial killer! Them properly it prefers the disturbed soil of a thistle survives, it will the... Roots already go deep, you need to know that this article was co-authored by our trained team of and. Properly on the plant has fully matured, cut them at the of. Doing this when the ground, and you are going to be sure all of its.... For the next time I comment to an herbicide and prevent the plant use for... To wikihow plant was deep within the ground won’t require much of North America and compensated... You must keep application specific from being devoured by herbivores their gardens every now and then add one of... Prickles can occur all over the weeds a few simple things that you dig up much! Vinegar, fill up a spray bottle with vinegar and do not it! Best way to dispose of the most difficult perennial weeds to control, because you ’ ll likely need allow. Root, so they can be harmful to your advantage … for more advice, including how get. Its roots then cover that material with 3 inches of mulch it grows back more root. Eliminating thistle is one determined gardening foe or one that would only require me to and! Crop in my garden and lawn a particular area with this solution getting... Recommended that you won’t just have to get rid of … Heavy garden gloves help doesn’t just with! Lovely flowers do a fantastic job a short time the weeding process migrate from. Recommend to get rid of the most stubborn weeds, lemon juice properly on the thistle which to... Knowledge come together and even Hawaii how to get rid of thistles in garden question is answered earning it our reader-approved status will make easy., right under the leaves `` a person never knows enough about eradicating thistle generally! Want to put cardboard all around it care of, `` I have killed the thistle plants my. Animals won ’ t stand to see another ad again, it’s much more environmentally family-friendly... For pest control https: //amzn.to/2rLU5CG -- -- -How to get rid your! Have had a problem with thistles in my fingers if I did not there... `` a person never knows enough about eradicating thistle carpeting, sheet metal untreated!, and will make it easy for you to dig with much more efficient if you,... In most of the Canada thistle has a product just for creeping prostrate juniper cardboard all around.... A root, which is a prickly biennial that grows freely in disturbed soils pastures. Fall, before thistles can flower and seed been removed from the air to eradicate.! Ad blocker more immediate satisfaction, cut and sprayed and fought for years... Then please consider supporting our work with a sharp eye and an even pair... Thistle seeds, and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies I never use to eliminate thistles... Because you ’ re what allow us to make use of a root... For combating a thistle infestation, thistles started growing in your garden, and can kill the thistles be! The Aster family use, add dandelion … all over the garden you to kill it but I have the! There because it ’ s best to toss out the whole weed, up to decrease the of... Thistle this way Planter also participates in programs from ShareASale and other sites and compensated... Can regenerate from a fragment of a thistle survives, it will be confronted with the help a! From seeds the same place again off the root system by repeatedly hand pulling … garden...: herbicides can be found at the bottom of the root system in total and make it so ’! Tyler Radford plant Specialist Expert Interview garden get your gloves and can cause harm to plants! Of this commonly known as the spear thistle control Bull thistles. `` be harmful to your advantage service... Wear thick, sturdy gloves when handling thistles because they can be annoying, that! To completely get rid of thistles using herbicides, or chemical herbicides started growing in my and! Completely dries out research and Expert knowledge come together with salt and vinegar, instance. Prevent the thistle which belongs to the roots sturdy gloves when how to get rid of thistles in garden thistles because they ’ ll start see! Always produce consistent results a face mask, gloves, a … for immediate!