05/29/2026
Noxious W**d Highlight: Thistles
Three highlighted thistle species are listed on the Utah noxious w**d list. Not only are these plants prickly and can draw blood, but they can also grow into dense stands crowding out all other vegetation and making areas unusable. Some thistles, like Scotch thistle can get HUGE! Dense stands can get up to 12 feet tall and make it impossible for people or livestock to get through. š²
It's best to dig these out when in the rosette stage (when first growing, no flowers). If you wait until the next year, they just get bigger and bigger.
š¤· So, what do we do to control these thistles? Biocontrol research is currently being conducted. Herbicides can offer good-to-excellent control when applied between rosette and pre-bud stages. Early bird catches the worm here! Herbicides such as Milestone or High Noon works well on Scotch thistle. Broadleaf herbicides such as 2-4-d works well on musk thistle. A good old fashion shovel also does the trick as a mechanical control but may be cumbersome if the plants get too large. Training livestock to eat thistle has shown to be successful too. Contact your state or county w**d specialist for specific, updated information. (Reference: Noxious W**d Field Guide for Utah).
š Learn more about noxious w**ds in Wasatch County at buff.ly/2opPBIQ.
