Hidden Pests in Open Spaces – Canada Thistle

One of the joys of living in Colorado is enjoying the vast amount of open space all around us. Many of our clients are fortunate enough to live close to or even directly next to open spaces. Unfortunately there are hidden pests that find these areas as preferred habitat as well. Canada Thistle is one of the pest species that is very unwanted and difficult to control.

The Colorado State University Extension offers valuable information about Canada Thistle as follows:

• Canada thistle is a creeping perennial that reproduces from vegetative buds in its root system and from seed.
• It is difficult to control because its extensive root system allows it to recover from control attempts.
• Combining control methods is the best form of Canada thistle management.
• Persistence is imperative so the weed is continually stressed, forcing it to exhaust root nutrient stores and eventually die.

Open space areas with infestations of Canada Thistle put pressure on adjacent properties because it spreads so readily by producing new plants from their expanding root systems. Because Thistle also produces abundant seed crops, there is a risk of spread via seed dispersal as well. Controlling Thistle is difficult and needs to include a combination of control techniques. Many Thistles are flowering and producing seeds right now so be sure to walk your property to identify potential problems. Give us a call and we can help you.