Thistle

There are several species of thistle that are weeds in New Zealand; nodding thistle, Californian thistle, Scotch thistle and star thistle. Californian thistle is perennial and can be difficult to control due to vegetative growth from its creeping and spreading root system.

In mown lawns it produces flat low leaves in a rosette. As the leaves are prickly they can make walking barefoot or lying on the lawn a painful experience.

In Lawns

• Apply a selective herbicide like LawnPro Turfclean. This will effectively control thistles but will leave lawn grasses unaffected.
• Because of the large rosette habit of thistles in lawns they can be easily spot treated with Weed Weapon Invade Gel.
• For best results use in Spring and Autumn when weeds and turf are growing.

In Garden Beds

• Knock down weeds quickly with Weed Weapon Extra Strength, Weed Weapon Rapid Action or Weed Weapon Woody Weeds. It is biodegradable in the soil so planting can be carried out 7 days after treatment.
• For best results use in Spring and Autumn when weeds and turf are growing.
• For a fast acting organic solution on young thistles use Weed Weapon Natural Power.

On Paths and Driveways

• Knock down weeds quickly with Weed Weapon Extra Strength or Weed Weapon Rapid Action. Then for long term control on paths and driveways use Weed Weapon Long Term. This will kill a wide range of weeds and prevent regrowth for up to 12 months.
• For best results use in Spring and Autumn when weeds and turf are growing.
• For a fast acting organic solution on young thistles use Weed Weapon Natural Power.

• Thistles are prickly plants mostly in the family Asteraceae.
• There are many weeds known as thistles in New Zealand including Californian, cotton, heraldic, Malta, marsh, nodding, perrenial sow, plumless, prickly sow, saffron, Scotch, slender winged, sow, star, variegated, winged, woolly-headed and yellow star. Other related species include knapweed and boneseed.
• Latin names: Nodding thistle - Carduus nutans, Winged thistle - Carduus teniflorus, Saffron thistle - Carthamus lantus, Star thistle - Centaurea calcitrapa, Malta thistle - Centaurea melitensis, Knapweed - Centaurea nigra, Boneseed - Chrysanthemoides monilifera.