How 2 rid of starthistle+fiddlenecks?
DSW Consulting
I am new at this and could use immediate help. Just bought this land in
GilRoy, California and for 2.5 weeks now have had our 2 horses on it.
Just realized yesterday that we have new unwanted growth--star thistle
and fiddlenecks--both of which I know are toxic to horses. The horses
are fed hay and pellets so when they graze, it is supplemental only.
Anyhow--I don't know if our horses would eat those and I don't want to
find out the hard way.
Can one get rid of star thistles and fiddlenecks...ever? How?
I thought of spraying Round Up but was told by the company that the
horses should not be allowed to be near the plants till they die (about
2 weeks). That would drive them nuts to be stabled that long cuz I
can't ride yet cuz of a fall. (we just got here, no arena yet).
What would you suggest I do? Rototill? Disk it? Anything else? I
called the UC extension and they have not responded as yet and I don't
want to delay. Help! (posted in misc.rural and rec.equestrian).
Dorie
d...@ix.netcom.com
w...@ecis.com
Dorie,
Welcome to California.
The severity of your problem is proportional to how eager your equids are
to sample these natural treats. While the debate goes on over the lesser
varieties of fiddleneck, yellow star thistle is definitely a killer.
Some horses won't eat it and some will. I've seen horses thrive year
after year in starthistle pastures, yet I know of some others who have
died.
Some people argue that fiddleneck isn't a problem until it matures.
Perhaps someone has more difinitive data on this plant. I choose not to
experiment. Out it comes. (Also, for what it's worth: Believe it or
not, there is now a "save the fiddleneck" movement in our region!!!)
As for eradication, we get out early each spring with a plastic barrel
and a weeding tool and the star thistle, fiddleneck and any other alkyd
laden weeds are removed forthwith. The time it takes to accomplish this
task is probably less than what would be required of us if any of the
animals were poisoned.
Good luck!
:O) Willis Lamm
Moe
On 7 Mar 1997 16:58:16 GMT, d...@ix.netcom.com(DSW Consulting) wrote:
>Can one get rid of star thistles and fiddlenecks...ever? How?
>I thought of spraying Round Up but was told by the company that the
>horses should not be allowed to be near the plants till they die (about
>2 weeks). That would drive them nuts to be stabled that long cuz I
While not a big fan of herbicides, if Roundup is your choice, it's one
of the least toxic for mammals...fairly high LD50....if your really
worried, put some cayenne in the mix, and unless the horses are
starving they won't touch it...well, after the first bite anyway.
Watch out if they ask for guacamole.
Subject: Re: ¿Buscas Dinero? Ven y da una mirada!!
http://www.netins.net/showcase/bigdog ©1997 bigdog
Kathryn Watts
> While not a big fan of herbicides, if Roundup is your choice, it's one
> of the least toxic for mammals...fairly high LD50....if your really
> worried, put some cayenne in the mix, and unless the horses are
> starving they won't touch it...well, after the first bite anyway.
Round-up binds up in the soil, to the point that using dirty water in
the mix will deactivate it. I'm afraid that cayenne pepper would do
the same. I'd test a small area first and see if it's still effective
before wasting a tank full. It's too expensive to waste. Pouring
something bad smelling on the surrounding soil might be a better idea to
keep the critters away, without adding extras to the spray.
Katy
Moe
On Sat, 08 Mar 1997 08:18:32 -0700, Kathryn Watts <kwa...@rmi.net>
wrote:
>> While not a big fan of herbicides, if Roundup is your choice, it's one
>> of the least toxic for mammals...fairly high LD50....if your really
>> worried, put some cayenne in the mix, and unless the horses are
>> starving they won't touch it...well, after the first bite anyway.
>
>Round-up binds up in the soil, to the point that using dirty water in
>the mix will deactivate it. I'm afraid that cayenne pepper would do
>the same.
Ahhh!
>I'd test a small area first and see if it's still effective
>before wasting a tank full. It's too expensive to waste.
Ahhh, around 20 something bucks a quart, enough to 10 gallons....your
not talking a no-till burn down, or RR soybeans.
I bought a pint two years ago, and I still have half a pint left...a
little goes a long ways.
>Pouring
>something bad smelling on the surrounding soil might be a better idea to
>keep the critters away, without adding extras to the spray.
Like?
So, forget about the cayanne...I mean I wouldn't use it anyway. They
aren't going to eat the horses....and the horses prolly would ingest
little, if any of the Roundup, if there is other feed available. It's
not like spraying giant ragweed, and turning the goats loose...
....and the girls squealed, "Oh, that's a big dog...Can we pet him?"
http://www.netins.net/showcase/bigdog ©1996 bigdog
Willow Green Regnery
We have lots of these obnoxious weeds around, but less now that my mom
sends me out every spring with gloves and a bucket to weed the little
ones and then use a hoe later when the ones we missed get bigger. It is
important to get the roots! good luck! Willow
Barry
I live in South Placer County (by Auburn) and we have lots of star thistle
here. I've found that star thistle can be displaced with pasture grass...
that is, if you have irrigation.
A discing of the area and seeding, followed by a regimented watering just
about this time of the year worked for me.
Some say that star thistle can be eliminated simply by watering it. 'Not
true. You just get healthier star thistle. Agricultural organizations
are investing a type of weevel (sp?) that eats star thistle but so far,
all I've seen is discussion on the subject.
Ironincally, star thistle was not present in CA until the late 1800's.
It's theorized that it was inadvertantly brought in to the area in
straw from horses shipped from Mediterranean (sp again..) countries.
John T. Klausner
Dorie, you really need to contact your local Ag Extension office -
they're in the area and are the best ones to answer your questions.
Look in the phone book in the front section under State offices.
SueK
In <5fphf8$c...@sjx-ixn11.ix.netcom.com> d...@ix.netcom.com(DSW
Consulting) writes:
>
>I am new at this and could use immediate help. Just bought this land
in
>GilRoy, California and for 2.5 weeks now have had our 2 horses on it.
>Just realized yesterday that we have new unwanted growth--star thistle
>and fiddlenecks--both of which I know are toxic to horses. The horses
>are fed hay and pellets so when they graze, it is supplemental only.
>Anyhow--I don't know if our horses would eat those and I don't want to
>find out the hard way.
>
>Can one get rid of star thistles and fiddlenecks...ever? How?
>I thought of spraying Round Up but was told by the company that the
>horses should not be allowed to be near the plants till they die
(about
>2 weeks). That would drive them nuts to be stabled that long cuz I
>can't ride yet cuz of a fall. (we just got here, no arena yet).
>
>What would you suggest I do? Rototill? Disk it? Anything else? I
>called the UC extension and they have not responded as yet and I don't
>want to delay. Help! (posted in misc.rural and rec.equestrian).
>Dorie
Moe
On 10 Mar 1997 18:08:21 GMT, som...@ix.netcom.com(John T. Klausner)
wrote:
> Dorie, you really need to contact your local Ag Extension office -
>they're in the area and are the best ones to answer your questions.
>Look in the phone book in the front section under State offices.
While not completely true in all cases, the Extension does have some
good information, and tares amidst the wheat.
You mentioned biological control.
Take a look at
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/list/complete.html
and down the list is a section on biological control.
>In <5fphf8$c...@sjx-ixn11.ix.netcom.com> d...@ix.netcom.com(DSW
>Consulting) writes:
>>
>>I am new at this and could use immediate help. Just bought this land
>in
>>GilRoy, California and for 2.5 weeks now have had our 2 horses on it.
>>Just realized yesterday that we have new unwanted growth--star thistle
>>and fiddlenecks--both of which I know are toxic to horses. The horses
>>are fed hay and pellets so when they graze, it is supplemental only.
>>Anyhow--I don't know if our horses would eat those and I don't want to
>>find out the hard way.
>>
>>Can one get rid of star thistles and fiddlenecks...ever? How?
>>I thought of spraying Round Up but was told by the company that the
>>horses should not be allowed to be near the plants till they die
>(about
>>2 weeks). That would drive them nuts to be stabled that long cuz I
>>can't ride yet cuz of a fall. (we just got here, no arena yet).
>>
>>What would you suggest I do? Rototill? Disk it? Anything else? I
>>called the UC extension and they have not responded as yet and I don't
>>want to delay. Help! (posted in misc.rural and rec.equestrian).
>>Dorie
>>d...@ix.netcom.com
>
Gala Argent
In article <5g1iml$5...@dfw-ixnews7.ix.netcom.com>,
som...@ix.netcom.com(John T. Klausner) wrote:
> Dorie, you really need to contact your local Ag Extension office -
> they're in the area and are the best ones to answer your questions.
> Look in the phone book in the front section under State offices.
> SueK
Hi Sue,
Actually, here in California they're under *County* in the phone book.
Dorie, you also could try U.C. Davis.
Gala Argent
Silvermoon Appaloosas, Foresthill, CA
arge...@foothill.net