Thistle Control

Thistle Control 

Thistle control covers a wide range of different plants within New Zealand. 

Common Names: Nodding Thistle, Winged Thistle, Saffron Thistle, Variegated Thistle, Californian Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Sow Thistle 

Scientific Names: Species include – Carduus sp., Carthamus sp., Centaurea sp., Cirsium sp., Sonchus sp. 

Description: Thistles can be annual, biennial or perennial which adds to the problem.  The distinctive feature of the thistle is the flower.  Most are mauve or purple composite flowers, such as the nodding and scotch thistle.  Some flowers are yellow as in the saffron thistle. 

Problem: Pasture problem.  As thistles produce large quantise of seed it is best to start thistle control before the plants set seed to prevent having to deal with a larger problem in the future.Many Regional Councils in New Zealand have thistle control listed in their Pest Management Strategies. 

Thistle Control:  Thistle control can be achieved by hand grubbing smaller infestations through to spot spraying or boom spraying entire paddocks with a thistle selective herbicide.  Thistle selective herbicides are very effective in thistle control of large areas as this method will only kill the thistles.