Technical Spear Thistles
Scotland’s national emblem, Spear Thistles (Cirsium vulgare) can be problematical in, or close to, fine turf areas
SPEAR Thistles are bi-annual, establishing from seed in the first year to form a rosette type of growth which, in the second year, develops into a larger plant having long stems that bear the flower and seed. Once the plant has produced the seed, it will then die. The roots of thistles form a branched taproot, ensuring the plant has good anchorage into the ground.
The flowering stems begin to emerge from the
rosettes when the basal leaves reach 15-30cm in length. These stems typically reach 30-100cm in height. From July onwards, plants produce large purple flower heads 3-5cm long by 2-5cm across, in loose clusters forming the stereotype image of a thistle.
The leaves of the thistle are dark green, rough and hairy on the upper surface. Leaves are deeply divided, each lobe terminating in a sharp rigid spine.
Spear thistles reproduce from seed, with a pappus or ‘parachute’ of long hairs, which is capable of carrying it over very long distances. Seed production is prolific, most seed heads producing about 100 seeds. Under the Weeds Act 1959, the Secretary of State may serve an enforcement notice on the occupier of land on which injurious weeds are growing, requiring the occupier to take action to prevent their spread. The Weeds Act specifies five injurious weeds: Common Ragwort, Spear Thistle, Creeping of Field Thistle, Broad leaved Dock and Curled Dock.
Plants may be killed by cultivation at the
rosette stage. Mowing prior to flowering will assist in reducing the rate of seed spread - no
flowers, no seed.
Hand hoeing is effective for individual plants and small patches, provided the growing point and the top 20 to 40mm of the tap root are removed.
Apply herbicides when plant growth is active. These herbicides are usually applied as a liquid using watering cans, knapsack sprayers or vehicle mounted sprayers. Ensure you follow manufacturer’s directions, health & safety and product data sheets, and comply with COSHH regulations, when using these chemicals. Herbicides are an effective tool where high quality turf is desired. However, they must be applied with care and accuracy and in the context of a good overall turf management programme. Never use a herbicide in any manner contrary to its label, and be sure that the herbicide will not injure the turfgrass.
Recommended products for controlling Spear Thistle
Praxys - MAPP no. 13912
Active Ingredients: 80.000g/l clopyralid, 2.500g/l florasulam and 100.000g/l fluroxypyr.
Praxys is a brand new systemic post-emergence herbicide from Everris. It combines three modern active ingredients and two different modes of action. Praxys herbicide rapidly enters target weeds, travelling through the whole plant to give complete weed destruction.
Praxys Herbicide is a selective, systemic post- emergence herbicide that is rainfast within one hour, giving complete kill right down to the roots.
Flexible application rates - 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 litres per hectare.
High selectivity to established and young turf Blaster - MAPP no. 13267
Active Ingredients: An emulsifiable concentrate containing 240g/litre triclopyr as acid and butoxy ethyl ester (21.8% w/w) and 60 g/litre (5.5% w/w) clopyralid.
Blaster is a foliar acting herbicide for the control of perennial broad-leaved weeds including nettles, docks, thistles, bramble, broom and gorse.
It may be used on all established amenity grassland, and will also controls some woody weeds.
Directions For Blaster Herbicide Use: Perennial Weed Control on and Amenity Grassland 2-4 litres/Ha.
APRIL/MAY 2012 PC 113
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156