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Problem with thisle
We recently moved into a new house and the mulch bed is overrun with thistle (as near as I can tell according to Google, it's prickly sow thistle).
It was about a month between when we closed and when we took possession and it had to have came through during that month which means it came really quickly to have grown and multiple as it has. And now it's migrating out of the mulch and into the lawn. Does anyone have any recommendations on getting rid of it for good?
I know I can pull it all up but since the roots are underneath all the mulch I'm afraid I won't get it all/see new weeds coming up. I am a new homeowner and have never really needed to take care of lawn and garden things. Any tips and tricks you have would be greatly appreciated (even just lawn maintenance in general). Thanks ladies!
Re: Problem with thisle
Most sow thistles are annuals, so ...
To get rid of the ones currently in the mulch, soak the bed, give the water time to soak down into the soil to soften it, loosen the ground around each one, then pull pull it out. Do not yank it; pull up firmly but slowly, so the root doesn't snap off. You'll want to wear gloves to do this.
Mowing should keep the ones in the lawn in check. I don't know how you feel about herbicides -- I try to avoid them -- but if you use a broadleaf herbicide in the lawn, that will kill them.
Next year, you'll have more little thistles coming up. If you catch them young, you'll be able to pull them out easily. Again, make sure the ground is wet so you get the whole plant.
Thanks for your help! Is this something we'll constantly have to take care of every year? Or will it lessen over time as we get rid of the roots?
It will lessen over time. For long-term control of annuals, it's less about getting the roots than about preventing flowering. Next year's plants come from the seed produced by this year's flowers. Unless someone else in your neighborhood is allowing thistle to go to seed, preventing yours from flowering will drastically cut back on new plants.
Pulling the root out prevents that plant from coming back this year.