tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post3823135486147198866..comments2024-03-16T13:29:45.711-07:00Comments on Dipper Ranch: Mowing ThistlesCindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13378411362651806039noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-89682743536454417822012-05-02T21:47:49.229-07:002012-05-02T21:47:49.229-07:00Marin Rancher: for most annual thistles, mowing a...Marin Rancher: for most annual thistles, mowing a stand just as you see the flower color popping out of the bud (purple for Italian thistle) is a good time. It is before the flower heads are open enough to pollinate and allow seeds to become viable. It is also late enough that some if not many of the plants may not push up multiple stems as vigorously from their cut base. Some will still push out new growth, so expect to have to mow again and maybe a third time but maybe not this summer because of the low rains. I am in the 4th year of controlling thistles in one plot with pulling and mowing and I can really see the difference this year. Make sure to read Thistle Logic post to help you develop a multiyear strategy and patience.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378411362651806039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-72949629709936618042012-05-02T21:05:21.843-07:002012-05-02T21:05:21.843-07:00It is May 1 here in Marin County and we are gettin...It is May 1 here in Marin County and we are getting serious about italian thistles here on our ranch.<br /><br />Do I understand from your post that the only way to avoid viable seeds is to mow the thistles BEFORE you see any purple flower at all ?<br /><br />A lot of ours have little purple flowers on the top, but I figured we still had some months to go before those seeds in there were actually viable - they would need to be pollinated, and then grow into viable seeds, or so I thought.<br /><br />We are mowing them all now, regardless, but I am curious if I am just mowing a bunch of viable seeds into the ground, or if the early, small, tight purple flowers are benign ?<br /><br />Thanks very much for these useful posts...Marin Ranchernoreply@blogger.com