September 20
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Annual Sow Thistle or Milk Thistle belongs to the "Asteraceae” family in the Genus “Sonchus" which derives its name from the young thistle-like leaves and its attraction for the pigs. Moreover, it is also reported beneficial for the rabbits in their natural habitat.
Annual Sowthistle originated from Western Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa with cereal grains and soon became an invasive plant in the US, China, Australia, and India. Annual sowthistle is a broadleaf annual herb which sometimes exhibits the characteristic of a biennial plant as well. It comes under the invasive plant species that could grow from sea level to 1500 meters above the sea. Annual Sowthistle could overwinter in the form of seeds buried under the snow and their germination starts in spring. However, the tropical climate allows them to grow throughout the year. Usually, it grows on inattentive sites where plenty of moisture and sunlight is available.
They may be found everywhere including garden beds, orchards, grass turf, and ornamental landscapes. Annual Sowthistle offers an attractive location for anchoring several pests which infest vegetable beds and orchards including aphids, mealybugs, and nematodes associated with vectoring viral plant diseases. Moreover, Sowthistle flowers also attract hoverflies that live on soft-bodied pests.
Under favorable conditions, the Annual Sowthistle can achieve height up to 1 meter or more. The flowers are alike Dandelion with a cylindrical stem that secretes milk when pierced between the nodes. Flowering starts in spring showing white cottony heads holding egg-shaped seeds that would disperse with water or wind. Grazing livestock could also contribute to their seed disbursing.
Seed germination in Annual Sowthistle takes place with the start of spring that continues into fall. Peak germination periods can be observed between late spring to early summer. Annual Sowthistle takes 8-10 weeks to come out of the seedling stage to start flowering. Flowers head formation could continue till mid-fall. Meanwhile, the flowering continues, and an individual flower could take 7-days to bloom, open, and disperse seeds for continuity.
Seeds disbursed through water or wind are primarily responsible for generation continuity. Since Annual Sowthistle reseeds itself for the seeds contain feathery bristles which assist the seeds to land on the neighboring sites using its pappus and the wind promotes this activity. If it happens, the plant seeds spread by reseeding themselves. Seeds have a pappus that triggers their movement with the flow of wind, and dispersal takes place antagonistically. So the best practice is to cut this plant before it seeds in any garden or planting bed. Its seed sprout between 45°F to 95°F on a variety of soils provided direct sunlight is available.
The young leaves are used in making salads and cooked with Asparagus, legumes, and eggs. Besides several medicinal uses, Annual Sowthistle contains several antioxidants, fatty acids, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, the gum derived from thistle milk is utilized in making chewing gum.
Maintaining a vigorous, dense, and timely Mowed turfgrass could suppress Annual Sowthistle growth since it needs to maintain a certain height for producing seeds. Usually, turfgrass would not allow it to reach the seedling stage due to consistent mowing. However, the neglected garden patches with plenty of sunlight can. A few thistle plants can be hand-pulled easily due to their shallow root system from mid-spring to late summer. But, heavier infestations need cutting, moving, and tilling before planting in the garden beds or lawns. Timely removal will permit the turfgrasses and other garden plants to thrive.
For garden beds, both organic and synthetic mulching could stop its growth. The gardeners may add a 3-4 inches layer of wood chips and wheat or rice husk if there is a fear of infestation from the neighboring landscape.
Polythene mulch is also a great suppressant that would not allow not only the Sowthistle but several other seasonal weeds that could distress your plants.
Organic control utilizes flaming at the post-emergence stages of Annual Sowthistle growth after the plant achieves a 3-5 leaf stage. This process checks the growth speed, and its ability to produce seeds is compromised. The annual Sowthistle plant may keep on standing erect for a couple of days but, it would lose its growth ability. The flaming procedures for the small gardeners are easy and cost-effective as they could use handheld burners for this purpose.
Prodiamine is Water Dispersible Granules with 65% active ingredient. These granules easily dissolve in water and can be used before Annual Sowthistle invades your turfgrasses and the landscape. One teaspoon is enough for mixing in 1 gallon of water that could cover a 25 square meter area. Better apply after 2-3 Mowing otherwise, it could stress the growth of turfgrasses. Overall, the product is safe for humans and the environment.
Quali-Pro Prodiamine, Pre-Emergent Herbicide, 5 lbs, Yellow Granules
This intelligent mix of 4-herbicides gives complete control of the Annual Sowthistle in 7-10 days. The mode of action of all 4 herbicides varies which initially stunt growth through leaf yellowing which twists Annual Sowthistle leaves turning them brownish by stopping photosynthesis. It doesn’t harm your turfgrasses but, kills several weeds which suppress turfgrasses growth. All 4 herbicides namely Triclopyr, Dicamba, 2,4-D, and Sulfentrazone are excellent broadleaf weed controllers. Add 1.5 ounces of T-Zone in 5 gallons of water to apply on a 90-100 square meter area.
Nufarm herbicide contains Methylamine, Dicamba, and Quinclorac in the ratios of 13.24%, 1.38%, and 8.25%, respectively. It has brilliant control over all broadleaf weeds including Annual Sowthistle and foxtail. Its ingredient Methylamine is fast reacting that stops weeds growth in 2-3 days. Other ingredient gets absorbed by the roots and checks growth permanently. 2.5 ounces of concentrate is good enough for controlling the Annual Sowthistle in 100 square meter area by mixing it in 5 gallons of water.
Defendor is relatively a new chemistry by Dow Agro sciences containing 4.84% of Flurasulam which controls broadleaf weeds during the early stages of growth when there is limited foliage and the majority of herbicides don’t kill weeds at this stage. 1 fluid ounce of this concentrate can kill weeds in 1000 square meter area of turfgrasses. To calibrate it according to the targeted areas, follow the label direction of the product.
Learn How to control and get rid of other weeds in our complete Yard Weeding Guide.
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