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Weeds
Volume 57 Number 14 Date 07/19/2012 HEDGE BINDWEED - This perennial, drought-tolerant vine is in full bloom in the southern counties. Herbicide treatment is recommended for problem populations when plants are at or past the full bloom stage, to ensure adequate control of underground plant parts. Both hedge and field bindweed reduce yield and their tangled stems can interfere with harvest operations in row crops. A combination of chemical, mechanical and cultural methods is usually required to eliminate bindweed populations over time. PLUMELESS THISTLE - Seeds are forming on plants found along roadsides and in pastures. Measures that may contribute to seed dispersal, such as mowing, should be avoided at this time or as soon as the flowers start showing color. Biennial thistles are intolerant of competition, so the establishment of a healthy pasture or rotation to a perennial crop on row crop land can be a very effective form of management. Herbicide applications to this weed and other biennial thistles such as bull and musk thistle are best applied to the rosettes in late fall. --Clarissa Hammond, DATCP Weed Scientist 
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