How to get rid of sow thistle on the site forever: causes, control measures, prevention

Among the widespread garden weeds, thistle occupies a special place. This plant is known for being able to cover large areas of the site almost instantly due to a highly developed root system. Simply pulling this weed out of the ground is not enough. It is important to know how to permanently get rid of sow thistle on the site, using the most effective biological, mechanical and chemical methods. You should also familiarize yourself with the necessary preventive measures.

Reasons for appearance

First of all, let's figure out where thistle comes from in the gardens. This plant is one of the top three weeds, along with wheatgrass and sirloin.

Field thistle, also known as yellow thistle, predominantly grows in ravines, wastelands, river banks, and gardens. It is a perennial plant growing to a height of half a meter.

Pink, or rough, a little shorter - up to 1.2 meters. It has a strong and robust root system, a branched straight stem and oblong prickly leaves. The flowers have a characteristic pink color. The distribution area of this species is fields, roadside areas.

In garden plots, thistle begins to grow actively as a result of the spread of seeds and pieces of weed rhizome.

What harm does

The sow thistle weed is a threat to nearby berries, fruits and vegetables.

The harm done is as follows:

• creating factors for the spread of fungal diseases of plant crops and attracting insect pests;
• difficulty tillage;
• slowing the growth and development of plantings by creating artificial shade and absorbing natural sunlight.

An important feature of thistle is that the root system of the weed grows into the soil to a depth of six meters and sucks out all the valuable minerals and vitamins. As a result, the soil becomes depleted, which adversely affects the quality of the future harvest.

Sow thistle is rapidly multiplying - and this is its danger.

Each plant is capable of producing about six and a half thousand seeds. In the wind, these seeds quickly spread between stands.

How to deal with thistle in the garden

There are several ways to deal with garden thistle. After reviewing each in detail, you can choose the most effective one.

Mechanical methods

Mechanical weed control methods such as manual removal and digging are widely used.

Manual deletion

This method is laborious due to the characteristics of the sow thistle root system. It can be facilitated through the use of special devices.

Gardening fork with 45-degree tines, suitable for removing loose weeds in the soil.

For pulling long root rods, a two-pronged fork root remover is recommended.

With the help of Fokin's flat cutter, weeds can be removed by ruining the device into the soil to a depth of up to three meters. It works on the principle of a scythe, beveling long rod stems and stretching them along the surface underground.

Digging the soil

Dig up the soil in several stages:

1. Carefully work with a shovel, break up clods and feed with fertilizer.
2. Use a pitchfork to loosen the ground, pull out clods and debris that has not been seen before.
3. If the soil is too hard, dig again.
4. Bring black earth to the site.

Chemicals

Herbicidal chemicals are effective in controlling weeds, including thistle.

Means containing glyphos in their composition destroy the weed within 2-3 weeks. Among them:

• Roundup;
• "Glyphos";
• "Tornado";
• "Hurricane";
• "Secateurs".

All of the listed chemicals work according to the following principle:

1. During the first day after spraying, the active ingredients penetrate the green parts of the plant.
2. Slowly moving towards the root system.
3. The death of weeds occurs due to a violation of the synthesis of amino acids.

Sow thistle treatment with herbicides can only be carried out in dry and calm weather. Even the slightest drop of a chemical should not be allowed to fall on cultivated plants planted on the site. It is necessary to dilute the drug strictly in the proportions indicated in the instructions. Before starting work, prepare personal protective equipment

Biological method

This method involves planting green manure plants on the site. These include:

• nettle;
• alfalfa;
• rye;
• peas;
• lupine.

When these plants grow up, you should cover the area with cardboard sheets or film and wait for spring. Overripe plants will enrich the soil with the necessary components. For a weed, such conditions are unfavorable.

Folk methods of struggle

There are also long-tested and reliable measures to destroy the weed thistle plant on the site:

1. One month before planting, treat the soil in the area with ethyl alcohol diluted in water. For 10 liters of water, 150 milliliters of alcohol is used.
2. A mixture of vinegar essence and s alt will help to permanently destroy the weed. Sow thistle must be cut, and then treat its root with the resulting solution.
3. Pour the weeds with an aqueous solution of table s alt - at the rate of 1 glass of s alt per 1 liter of water.
4. Sprinkle weed areas with dry table s alt. For each square meter of the site, one and a half kilograms of product will be required.
5. Use baking soda to sprinkle the sow thistle. Under the influence of moisture, it will dissolve, having a detrimental effect on the development of the weed.

Recurrence Prevention

For preventive purposes, several rules should be followed:

1. Use only high-quality and clean seed purchased from specialized outlets.
2. Be sure to consider crop rotation.
3. Cut weeds at the very beginning of flowering.

Following these recommendations will help create favorable conditions for the development of useful crops on the plots.

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