Thank you for this topic and discussion. I’m currently transitioning a farm from tillage to no-till. It’s overrun with thistle and bindweed. With a low budget my only defense has been to utilize cardboard and free wood chips to stop and/or reduce growth of both of these invasive plants. I’ve been planting into compost on top of the cardboard. Obviously once the cardboard breaks down enough the roots of the crops I’ve planted are able to puncture and grow larger but that is also the point where the bindweed finds sunlight and once again becomes a nuisance. The thistle seems to be controlled as long as I have dug it out or cut it off just below the surface prior to laying the cardboard, for now. Despite the entire three acres being covered with thistle and bindweed, I’ve noticed where I’ve been working, the continuation of these two invasive species seems to have been reduced by at least 90%.
Thank you for this topic and discussion. I’m currently transitioning a farm from tillage to no-till. It’s overrun with thistle and bindweed. With a low budget my only defense has been to utilize cardboard and free wood chips to stop and/or reduce growth of both of these invasive plants. I’ve been planting into compost on top of the cardboard. Obviously once the cardboard breaks down enough the roots of the crops I’ve planted are able to puncture and grow larger but that is also the point where the bindweed finds sunlight and once again becomes a nuisance. The thistle seems to be controlled as long as I have dug it out or cut it off just below the surface prior to laying the cardboard, for now. Despite the entire three acres being covered with thistle and bindweed, I’ve noticed where I’ve been working, the continuation of these two invasive species seems to have been reduced by at least 90%.
What if you have thistle in a older grass stand?
So what is a good organic approach to killing thistle?