[blackbelly] thistle
We have a field with allot of thistle in it. How do we get rid of it short of a shovel and hoe? without hurting the sheep. Is there a spray etc that can be put on it? Thanks for any ideas. Nancy ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
Some of my sheep eat thistles. If they will eat it, it should be OK... Cecil in Okla - Original Message - From: "Nancy Richardson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 4:31 PM Subject: [blackbelly] thistle > > We have a field with allot of thistle in it. How do we get rid of it short > of a shovel and hoe? without hurting the sheep. Is there a spray etc that > can be put on it? Thanks for any ideas. Nancy > > ___ > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
Nancy, can you mow it to keep it from going to seed? Thistle is an indicator of several soil conditions, depending on what type of thistle you have. Generally speaking it indicates a low to very low level of calcium, high potassium, low humus, and a few other variables. If you can get your soil in balance, generally the specific weed problem will take care of itself. Regards, Barb Lee - Original Message - From: "Nancy Richardson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 2:31 PM Subject: [blackbelly] thistle > We have a field with allot of thistle in it. How do we get rid of it > short > of a shovel and hoe? without hurting the sheep. Is there a spray etc > that > can be put on it? Thanks for any ideas. Nancy > > ___ > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > > ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
At 02:31 PM 5/27/2006, you wrote: >We have a field with allot of thistle in it. How do we get rid of it short >of a shovel and hoe? without hurting the sheep. Is there a spray etc that >can be put on it? Thanks for any ideas. Nancy Well, 2-4,D should kill thistles while leaving the grass alive, but I personally don't like using chemicals. I would either get out there with a blowtorch and steam them to death, or wait for them to flower, and mow your fields. You may have to mow 3 or 4 times through the year, just keep an eye out for flowering thistles. Another thing you could do disc/rototill the field, then plant buckwheat to smother out the weeds. You can mow or disc to kill the buckwheat, then plant more. You can get 2 or 3 plantings of buckwheat before the frosts come, then re-seed your pasture. This is what I'm doing this summer, not just to deal with weeds, but to add some organic matter to my soil. Julian ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
> Another thing you could do disc/rototill the field, then plant > buckwheat to smother out the weeds. You can mow or disc to kill the > buckwheat, then plant more. You can get 2 or 3 plantings of buckwheat > before the frosts come, then re-seed your pasture. This is what I'm > doing this summer, not just to deal with weeds, but to add some > organic matter to my soil. > > Julian Hay Julian, let me clue you in to another perfectly astonishing thing about BUCKWHEAT. It has a profound ability to take soil phosphorus which is unavailable to other plants, and when plowed in, release it in available form to other plants!!! When we had our soil tested recently it came out to about one pound of available phosphorus per acre! :o( In the garden last year, I planted three successive crops of buckwheat, which I allowed to flower for the bees, then plowed under. When I tested the garden soil it was positively SATURATED with phosphorus!! Go for it! If you could rotate it with legumes, then throw on the wood stove ashes, you'd have a nutritional goldmine! Regards, Barb L. ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
Keep the sheep in the thistle field and nothing other to eat.They dig even the roots out - Original Message - From: "Nancy Richardson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 2:31 PM Subject: [blackbelly] thistle > We have a field with allot of thistle in it. How do we get rid of it short > of a shovel and hoe? without hurting the sheep. Is there a spray etc that > can be put on it? Thanks for any ideas. Nancy > > ___ > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.2/349 - Release Date: 26/05/2006 > > ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
We have very rocky terrain so thistles love certain areas of our property. In the past, Paul has sprayed with Roundup, but I wouldn't let him spray the areas the animals graze. Of course, now the places he sprayed years ago looks greatand the animal grazing areas have thistles! Yes, my sheep and goats won't touch them! So last week a neighbor mentioned using vinegar so I thought I'd try it. I filled up a spray bottle and began squirting those little buggers. It was a little hard on my back (VBG) but few days later, the leaves are turning brown! Now, I know they have strong roots so only time will tell as to whether or not this will work to kill the plantsor just kill the leaves that got the vinegar. I also sprayed a clump of clover and grass to see how they react, because if this really works, I'd like to spray the whole area, not just each individual plant! I'll keep you posted. -Renee >- Original Message - >From: "Nancy Richardson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: >Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 2:31 PM >Subject: [blackbelly] thistle > > > > We have a field with allot of thistle in it. How do we get rid of it >short > > of a shovel and hoe? without hurting the sheep. Is there a spray etc >that > > can be put on it? Thanks for any ideas. Nancy > > > _ On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
Be aware, using vinegar ismjust like using anyother herbicide-- if the day is not dry, warm, and sunny, you are wasting the effort-- you kinda have to follow the directions of a the commercial herbicides-- this from an arborist who [refers to use "natural" mathods Terry --- Paul & Renee Bailey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > We have very rocky terrain so thistles love certain > areas of our property. > In the past, Paul has sprayed with Roundup, but I > wouldn't let him spray the > areas the animals graze. Of course, now the places > he sprayed years ago > looks greatand the animal grazing areas have > thistles! Yes, my sheep and > goats won't touch them! > > So last week a neighbor mentioned using vinegar so I > thought I'd try it. I > filled up a spray bottle and began squirting those > little buggers. It was a > little hard on my back (VBG) but few days later, > the leaves are turning > brown! Now, I know they have strong roots so only > time will tell as to > whether or not this will work to kill the > plantsor just kill the leaves > that got the vinegar. I also sprayed a clump of > clover and grass to see how > they react, because if this really works, I'd like > to spray the whole area, > not just each individual plant! I'll keep you > posted. > > -Renee > > > >- Original Message - > >From: "Nancy Richardson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: > >Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 2:31 PM > >Subject: [blackbelly] thistle > > > > > > > We have a field with allot of thistle in it. How > do we get rid of it > >short > > > of a shovel and hoe? without hurting the sheep. > Is there a spray etc > >that > > > can be put on it? Thanks for any ideas. Nancy > > > > > > > _ > On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events > for advice on how to > get there! > http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement > > ___ > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at > %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
Thanks for the insight, Terry! I agree that building up the soil makes much better since. We've been bringing in horse manure and doing some other things to try to create a better soil. It will take some time, but I'm not giving up. I did wonder when the rains came, if all was for not! -Renee >From: Terry Wereb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info >To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info >Subject: Re: [blackbelly] thistle >Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 20:50:49 -0700 (PDT) > >Be aware, > using vinegar ismjust like using anyother herbicide-- >if the day is not dry, warm, and sunny, you are >wasting the effort-- > you kinda have to follow the directions of a the >commercial herbicides-- this from an arborist who >[refers to use "natural" mathods _ On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] thistle
At 07:19 PM 5/27/2006, you wrote: >Hay Julian, let me clue you in to another perfectly astonishing thing >about BUCKWHEAT. It has a profound ability to take soil phosphorus >which is unavailable to other plants, and when plowed in, release it in >available form to other plants!!! > >When we had our soil tested recently it came out to about one pound of >available phosphorus per acre! :o( In the garden last year, I planted >three successive crops of buckwheat, which I allowed to flower for the >bees, then plowed under. > >When I tested the garden soil it was positively SATURATED with >phosphorus!! Go for it! If you could rotate it with legumes, then >throw on the wood stove ashes, you'd have a nutritional goldmine! > >Regards, >Barb L. Yeah, the phosphorus and calcium scavenging is definitely another plus. I just did a little reading, and incorporating cow peas or soybeans with the buckwheat works well to boost N levels, so I'll call my seed guy on Tuesday and see what he can get me. Or maybe I'll mix in some field peas into my pasture mix this fall, and use those for adding some N. I could also seed more into the pasture in the spring, to help the grass hold up better through the summer. Apparently, field(winter) peas continue fixing N even when they are grazed. I don't know if other peas/beans do or not, but field peas were specifically mentioned to do that. I'm not sure where I would get that much wood ash, or how I would spread it out. Supposedly feeding "imported" grain can cause an over-accumulation of potassium in the soil, so my free ranging chickens may take care of the potassium requirements anyway. Hopefully feeding kelp meal and DE will contribute more trace minerals to the soil. Julian ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
