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NOXIOUS WEED ALERT
Chaves Soil and Water Conservation District 1011 S. Atkinson Roswell, NM 88203 Noxious Weed Coordinator 575-622-8746 ext 100
BULL THISTLE & MUSK THISTLE
KEY INFORMATION PREVENT SEED FORMATION! – new plants start only from seeds. Plants spread rapidly, form dense stands, will push out desirable plants. Not toxic but, if baled in hay, livestock may eventually refuse to eat it.
DESCRIPTION OF BOTH Purple flowers mature in June & July, each flower producing thousands of seeds! Seeds “fly” in July & August, and can live up to 10 years in the soil. 1st year- a flat, leafy rosette forms, 2nd year – stalk shoots up, forms branches and leaves, then flowers, seeds, and dies. Grow from 1’ to 7’ tall. Plant is usually bushy or thick, but can be slender or thin. Roots are harmless, and if main root is cut the plant will die.
Bull thistle Musk thistle
Narrow, pointed spines. Broad, sharp spines
Flowers are upright, look like a vase Flowers “nod” over when mature
Leaves have prickles on upper side Leaves dark green w/light green rib
And sharp spines on the edges.
KEY TO CONTROL AND ERADICATION BEST IF CONTROLLED IN THE ROSETTE STAGE. STOP THE SPREAD OF SEEDS, & each year you’ll have a lot fewer plants. Will take 3-5 years to completely eradicate. With thin infestations just “Flip” before flowers form, or use “Clip and Flip”method (below), Large infestations may require herbicides. Rosettes are easily killed. If plant bolts, you’ve lost another year.
CLIP AND FLIP
Works well on plants with lots of seeds Will permanently kill annuals and biennials
Method: Clip off ALL the flowers/seed heads BEFORE the seeds start spreading, Put ALL the flowers/seed heads in double plastic bags, and close them securely, Remove them from the weed site because the heads will continue to mature. Don’t just dump them anywhere, you’ll spread them! Dispose of in the County dumpster. Then: ‘Flip’so the plant won’t re-grow new flowers and seeds: Cut the plant about 1/2 inch deep below the soil’s surface, Can leave the plant lying on the ground, or throw it away, Be sure there are no little flowers or heads that will mature!
Spines can make clipping difficult. A trick is to clip flowers
into a bucket.
CHAVES SOIL AND WATER IS HERE TO HELP NOXIOUS WEED PROGRAM Give us a call
We can help with such things as: 505-622-8746 Identifying unknown plants, Determining methods for control, Demonstrating proper methods, Getting you started on the right path. We can: -Provide herbicides -Provide classes and information on obtaining chemical use licenses (Thanks to the Cuba Soil and Water Conservation District for allowing us to use their weed alert formats)