Variegated thistle control

Winter - spring: 2,4-D LV ester; 2,4-D amine

Actively growing: Glyphosate; Basta®

Pre-cabbage stage of weed: Metsulfuron + MCPA; MCPA

Up to four leaf stage of weed: Jaguar®

Plants up to six leaf: Bromoxynil + MCPA

Seedlings: Paraquat + diquat

Rosettes prior to stem elongation: Clopyralid + MCPA

Prior to flowering: Dicamba

At flowering: Paraquat; Glyphosate + 2,4-D

1. 600g/L 2,4-D ester
2. 680g/L 2,4-D ester

1:660 - 1:330

1. 10-35mL
2. 10-30mL

1.5–3mL

1:600

Winter-spring, as early as possible after emergence

Use lower rates for seedlings, increasing as plants run up to flower. A split application of 2L/ha in early winter followed by 2L/ha in spring is often more effective. High concentrations may be needed when spot spraying under difficult climatic conditions.

• Grub individual plants. Unsprayed large infestations can be slashed at early flowering stage to reduce seeding.
• Note: The 2,4-D treatment can not be used within 10km of a commercial vineyard or tomato garden (see Restricted Spraying Regulations).

1. 500g/L 2,4-D amine
2. 625g/L

1:500-1:200

1. 20-50mL
2. 16–40mL

1. 2-5L
2. 1.6–4L

1:600

Winter-spring, as early as possible after emergence

Use lower rates for seedlings, increasing as plants run up to flower. A split application of 2L/ha in early winter followed by 2L/ha in spring is often more effective. High concentrations may be needed when spot spraying under difficult conditions.

• 'Spray-graze' in pastures using 500-750mL/ha. MCPA at 1L/ha can also be used for ‘spray-grazing’.
• A spraying permit required if treating within 5km of a commercial vineyard or tomato garden.

360, 450, 490 and 540g/L and 680g/kg glyphosate

Other concentrations are available

• 75-100mL glyphosate 360g/L
• 60-80mL glyphosate 450g/L
• 55-75mL glyphosate 490g/L
• 50-65mL glyphosate 540g/L
• 40-50g glyphosate 680g/kg

Adjust the rate if using another concentration of glyphosate

• 2-3L glyphosate 360g/L
• 1.6-2.4L glyphosate 450g/L
• 1.5-2.2L glyphosate 490g/L
• 1.3-2.0L glyphosate 540g/L
• 1-1.6kg glyphosate 680g/kg

Adjust the rate if using another concentration of glyphosate

Actively growing. Do not graze before treating. Use higher rates on plants greater than 12cm diameter.

Where shallow water or treatment is adjacent to drains or creeks Roundup Biactive or Razor are the preferred glyphosate treatments. Glyphosate (trimesium = Touchdown) is also registered. Glyphosate will remove all the vegetation and may not be a desirable treatment on country prone to soil erosion.

600g/kg metsulfuron methyl + 500g/L MCPA

Other concentrations are available

5g + 0.84-1.1L MCPA (LVE*) *Low volatile ester

• In wheat and barley: pre-cabbage stage of weed.
• In cereals: apply from five leaf stage to commencement of flag leaf (Z15-37).

Do not apply to oats

Triasulfuron (Logran) @ 30g/ha also recommended as a pre-emergent treatment in wheat

500g/L MCPA as dimethyl-amine salt

15mL

1.5L

1:400

Apply pre-cabbage stage

Extreme cold or drought will reduce effectiveness

• Rain within six hours may reduce control. Treatment is softer on subterranean clovers than 2,4-D.
• A spraying permit required if treating within 5km of a commercial vineyard or tomato garden.

200 and 500g/L and 700g/kg dicamba

15mL dicamba 500g/L

1.2L dicamba 500g/L

1:400

Prior to flowering

• Non-crop situations
• Clovers will not tolerate these rates of dicamba

• For treatment in cereals only apply at 300mL (500g/L) + 1L/ha of 500g/L MCPA.
• A spraying permit required if treating within 5km of a commercial vineyard or tomato garden.

200g/L bromoxynil (Group C) + 200g/L MCPA (Group I)

20mL

2L

Plants up to six leaves, but not more than 5cm diameter

Apply to cereal crops and grass pastures. A spraying permit required if treating within 5km of a commercial vineyard or tomato garden.

135g/L paraquat + 115g/L diquat

1.1-2.4L

1:400

Seedlings up to two months old and also at flowering to prevent seed set

• Use only in conjunction with a cultivation in preparation for a crop.
• This chemical should only be used by a person qualifies/trained to apply herbicides.

For larger plants water volumes should increase from 50-100L/ha to 150-200L/ha. This product or paraquat (Gramoxone) alone at 2L/ha is very effective in reducing seed production if applied at early flowering. This treatment can also be applied using a wiper. For wiping a mixture of 1L/5L water.

300g/L or 750g/kg clopyralid  + 500g/L MCPA

50-70mL or 20g clopyralid + 1-1.5L MCPA or 100mL or 40g of clopyralid alone

Rosettes prior to stem elongation, while actively growing

Clopyralid at 100mL/ha is only effective if applied to weed in summer/autumn after germination of the thistle and before any clover and medics have germinated. Lightly graze pastures to reduce pasture cover. Treat four days after removing stock. Do not graze for at least 15 days.

Tordon 242 also registered for variegated thistle, but this is residual and can reduce clover for at least one year

360g/L glyphosate (Group M) + 600, 680g/L 2,4-D LV ester (Group I)

Other concentrations of glyphosate available

400mL glyphosate + 400mL of 2,4-D LV ester
Adjust rates if using another concentrations of glyphosate

At flowering

Not recommended for south west Western Australia because of risk to commercial vines and vegetables. An APVMA permit is required to apply 2,4-D ester (80%) from 1 September until 1 May.

Other formulations of glyphosate available