Controlling Thistle Growth

• 1
  Thistlethistle image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
  
  Remove biennials before they bloom and produce seeds. The optimal times to remove the weeds are between September and October or between April and mid-June. Mow them down with a lawnmower.
  
  
• 2
  Bull thistle is a type of biennial thistlethistle image by asmik from Fotolia.com
  
  Using the shovel, remove the roots entirely. Place them in a bag and discard. It may take several cycles of removing the roots to ensure the elimination of all biennial thistles.
  
  
• 3
  Dandelion is a type of perennial thistle.small wasp on a dandilion image by green308 from Fotolia.com
  
  Perennials require a different removal process. Destroy these with herbicides that contain glyphosate. While the perennials actively grow, apply the herbicide. The best time for application is when the temperature is between 60 and 85 degrees F in the fall or spring.
  
  
• 4
  Seedhead of a dandelion thistlesow-thistle image by Andrzej Dziedzic from Fotolia.com
  
  Place protective gloves on your hands to protect from the chemicals. Use eye protection to prevent accidental exposure to the eyes. Place a tarp or a garbage bag around the surrounding area to protect it. Glyphosate kills everything it touches. Use extreme caution when applying it.
  
  
• 5
  Seeds dispersingsow-thistle image by martini from Fotolia.com
  
  Spot-treat the weeds. Wait about two days and confirm the treatment's success. Repeat the procedure if they do not appear to be dying.
  
  
• 6). Once the thistles die, remove the roots completely. Place them in a garbage bag and throw away. It may take a few life cycles to completely eradicate them.