How To Remove Thistles - NO Chemicals (Recycle Into Fertilizer and Compost Booster)

[@merjalaine2543]

Mine too. Had a grip on it, but a back injury set me back. Gardening should not be a constant battle with thistles. I will spray paint the patch with the most blown thistles, and then keep on pulling them out. At least the vinegar method also bugs rodents.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Thistles are a giant rhizome network. The shoots we see are just small pieces of a larger underground colony. Constant pulling and distress to the root network eventually takes out the colony. They make good compost, chicken food, and mulch. There are ways to to embrace it. I just never let it go to seed

[@lauriaktahi]

Im not putting anything on my soil that still smells bad. Waiting until the smell goes away is best, I've been told. Or make lactic acid bacteria serum and add a bit to the brew, takes the smell away quick.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I've been digging up a soggy area of my chicken run and putting it around plants. Smells like anaerobic swamp mud but the plants are loving it

[@gypsygem9395]

Not sure this will really work here in the UK because these thistles have runners... Unless it's a slightly different variety to the one we have here which is creeping thistle (Circium arvense)

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

These have runners as well. It is true that the runners roots will send up new shoots BUT after repeated removal the system grows tired and dies. Thistles love compacted soil so they also disappear when the soil becomes healthy

[@toddjohnston4788]

great video...ya I never have the patience or the right tool to get the whole root...I have to get something like you are using..thanks

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I was doing them without the tool before. Took 3 or 4 rounds to stop them from coming back with the roots snapping off. Going to use the tool for this section

[@user-rz8gx3fh1p]

Get a "Grampa's Weeder" so good. yank the whole root out while standing up

[@ueaj123]

My yard is completely overrun with these and other weeds. Absolutely overrun with all kinds of weeds but these bad boys are everywhere.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

These form rhizome colonies if left too long

[@merjalaine2543]

I thought perhaps I could spray enamel paint onto my ready blown thistle seeds and try to pull them after..

[@ta8193]

sounds good, but what do you do with the leftover thistles?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I give them to the chickens or compost them

[@magicalmindtransformation3474]

Nice!!

[@bettyfreddy8377]

If I put this on my garden will the smell evaporate? My neighbors will be upset.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Eventually, but while making it the smell is pretty noticeable