Musk Thistle Life Cycle

They stand tall and strong, like sentries allowing no one to pass. And in most cases, groupings of musk thistle won’t let humans, grazing animals or wildlife through one of its natural stands. When the six-foot tall plants mature, they frequently block access to water and reduce usable land significantly.

Musk thistle seeds germinate in the fall and sprout a rosette of leaves that over-winters, establishing itself and gathering strength for a growth spurt between April and June of the following year. Flowering lasts late May through mid-July and mature seeds are dispersed one to three weeks after flowering.

Seeds are the masterminds of musk thistle’s evil plan. They can only germinate on bare soil and need sun for best growth. With tall parents, shade is prevalent after dispersion. But no worry, seeds remain viable for 10 years or more so all they have to do is wait for a breeze, running water, livestock or wildlife to push them along to a better sprouting area.

Musk Thistle Control

With a full decade of time on their side, most seeds sprout and that means that long-term musk thistle control is necessary to eliminate musk thistle. Beneficial insects offer an hands-off option, but weed overpopulation can lead to insect overpopulation, so this option is strictly controlled by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

Cutting and mowing of any thistle needs to be precisely timed – not too early because the plant can spontaneously regenerate and not too late because mechanical elimination can help disperse seeds.

Spot spraying of herbicides eliminates musk thistle and when correctly applied, does not affect surrounding vegetation. Timing is also important when applying chemicals and special spot spraying equipment ensures focused application and success in musk thistle control.

If you have musk thistle on your property and would like to effectively remove it and prevent re-seeding, contact SprayTech, Colorado commercial and residential weed-spraying specialists, at 720-248-0000 for musk thistle control.