Musk thistle control

We are past the end of the time period to control musk thistles effectively. Musk thistle is primarily a biennial or winter annual species. As a biennial, seed will germinate in the spring or fall and plants remain as rosettes during the entire growing season. Upon surviving a winter, plants will bolt, flower and produce seeds, taking parts of two growing seasons to complete their life cycle.

Musk thistle reproduces only by seed. Thus, the goal of any control program is to reduce and/or eliminate seed production. Control options include mechanical, biological, cultural and chemical methods.

Mowing at the bloom stage will prevent seed production, but it usually takes two or three mowings at two- to four-week intervals to ensure that musk thistles do not produce seed. Another method to keep musk thistles from producing seed is to cut individual plants two to four inches below the soil late enough in the growing season that they don’t have time to produce viable seed. The musk thistle head and rosette weevils can also help reduce seed production.

Cultural control practices are any methods which improve grass vigor and grass cover and would include prescribed burning and good grazing management. Burning by itself will not kill musk thistle, but can remove excessive amounts of litter that prevent good coverage when spraying. Areas with musk thistle should be sprayed about 10-14 days after burning. Proper burning stimulates warm-season grasses that compete more favorably against musk thistle. Proper grazing that maintains and/or improves the vigor of competing vegetation can also help keep musk thistle populations down.

Musk thistle plants are most easily controlled by herbicides applied during the seedling and rosette stages of growth. Common herbicides such as 2,4-D, dicamba and picloram, as well as those that contain metsulfuron, chlorsulfuron and aminopyralid are very effective controlling musk thistles in the rosette stage and are more effective when sprayed October through December or February through March.

Once plants begin to bolt, products with aminopyralid, picloram, dicamba and metsulfuron will need to be used. Most of the previously mentioned products are available in combination with 2,4-D and are also excellent in controlling annual and perennial weeds. Examples of these would include: Grazon P+D, Graslan L, Grazon Next, Weedmaster, Chaparral, Cimmaron plus and Cimmaron Max.

Always read the label with particular attention to precautionary statements, grazing/haying restrictions and rates of application.

I would be glad to visit with you about your options in managing this and other pasture issues. I can be reached at the Garland County Extension Service office, 236 Woodbine, Hot Springs, 501-623-6841, or jdriggers@uaex.edu.

Master Gardeners

If interested in gardening, the Garland County Master Gardeners hold its meeting at 1 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at Lake Valley Community Church and it is open to the public. For information call the Extension Office or email Allen Bates at abates@uaex.edu.

EHC

Interested in joining an existing Extension Homemaker’s Club? Or would you and a group of friends like to organize a club in the community? For information, call Alison Crane, county extension agent – FCS, at 623-6841 or email acrane@uaex.edu.

4-H

If between the ages of 5 and 19, you can join 4-H. There is a club for you, or you and a group of friends can organize a club of your own. For information, call Linda Bates at 623-6841 or email lbates@uaex.edu.

of gently used, in clean condition, linens, household items, home decor, clothing and furniture are accepted. All proceeds support the cat shelter. Low-cost spay and neuter vouchers are available during store hours. Volunteers and foster parents are needed, call 6233484, leave a message and number. Adoption days are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday.

Abilities Unlimited Thrift Store, 1819 Albert Pike, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. It has a selection of clothing for men, women, children and plus sizes; shoes, household items and furniture are available. Tax-deductible donations, which help individuals with disabilities in

Garland County and surrounding areas, are accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the back door; or call 624-5757 for pickup of donations.

Abilities Unlimited Thrift Store HSV, 4055 N. Highway 7, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. It accepts tax-deductible donations of usable clothing, books, furniture and miscellaneous household items. Call 501-204-5024 or 624-5757 for donation pickups.

The Salvation Army Family Store, 109 Crescent St., has gently worn men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, plus a selection of household items. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call 623-1641 for tax deductible pickup of good, quality items.

The Salvation Army Family Store, 4409 Central Ave., next to Kroger, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. It offers furniture, clothing and household items. Donations are appreciated. Call 525-5059 for information.

The Salvation Army Family Store, 4652 N. Highway 7, Village Plaza Shopping Center, Hot Springs Village, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Donations are appreciated.

Potter’s Clay Thrift Shop,

1013 Malvern Ave., is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Tax-deductible donations of good reusable clothing and furniture are accepted. Proceeds benefit a Christ-centered shelter for abused women and children. Call 6204405 for information.

United Methodist Thrift Store, 304 Albert Pike, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Saturday. The store stocks men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, household items, fabric and books (in good condition). Clean, usable donations of clothes, housewares and small furniture are appreciated. Proceeds are used to assist needy families in Garland County.

John & Sue Anthony Vintage Mall, 1679 Highway 7 north, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday;

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Call

624-2446 or email storemanager@ teenchallengear.org for information.

Miscellaneous

Duplicate bridge will be held at 12:30 p.m. today at The Bridge House, 300 W. St. Louis St., for all nonlife masters with stratified scoring. Need a partner? Come early. Call 525-8780 or 262-9149 for information.

Hot Springs Fun City Chorus, a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, will meet at 7 p.m. today at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3819 Central Ave. All males in any age group are welcome. For performance information, call Steve Spakes, 624-6100. Call William James, 318-8754, for information about the chorus.

Crystal Chimes Chorus,a member chapter of Sweet Adelines International Women’s Barbershop Organization, meets from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays at Christ of the Hills Church, 700 Balearic Road, Hot Springs Village. The chorus has members from Hot Springs. Visitors are welcome. Call Judy Pugh,

817-714-5716, or Margaret Kresse,

501-701-4413, for information. New Born Parenting classes for teens, young mothers and fathers are held from 1-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Change Point,

201 Nickels St. Call 624-2273 for appointment. After hour classes by appointment only.

StrongWomen/StrongMen meets from 9-10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Leonard Street Baptist Church, Leonard and Panama streets. Women and men are welcome to join this exercising program to prevent osteoporosis, increase balance and muscle tone and get in shape. Call Sharon Dodd, 525-1718, for information.

Civil Air Patrol 40th Composite Squadron holds a senior meeting at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Hot Springs Memorial Field. Cadets meet at 7 p.m. every Tuesday. Call 760-2472 for information.

StrongWomen will meet at

8:45 a.m. today and Thursday at New Salem United Methodist Church, 1798 Mountain Pine Road. Improve balance and strength, prevent osteoporosis, strengthen joints, increase metabolism. Call Billie Sue, 282-6261, for information.

Extension Get Fit meet at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Piney Grove United Methodist Church, 2963 Airport Road. Some new, some old exercises. Join in for an all body workout. Everyone welcome. Call Virginia Gunderson,

767-3831, and Mary Scudder, 7675040, for information.

The Salvation Army Senior Fellowship group meets at 9 a.m. Tuesdays at The Salvation Army,

115 Crescent, for free coffee, cake, devotions, singing, bingo and fellowship. If you are 55 or older, come on over.

StrongWomen exercise program meets from 9-10:30 a.m. Mondays and Fridays in the multipurpose building at Center Fork Baptist Church, 1101 S. Moore Road. If you’ve always wanted to start a strength training program but just did not know how to start, come on by.

Water workout and aerobics, Aqua Arthritis classes and swim lessons for all ages are held at Quapaw Community Center,

500 Quapaw Ave. Water aerobics is at 9 a.m. Monday-Friday and water workout at 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Aqua Arthritis classes follow the guidelines of the Arthritis Foundation’s water exercise program and are held at 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call 623-9922 for information.

Extension Get Fit meets from

9-10 a.m. Monday-Thursday at Hot Springs Baptist Church. Strength and core training is offered Tuesday and Thursday, and circuit and aerobic training Monday and Wednesday. Prevent bone loss, increase balance and strength. Call Melba Haynes, 501-538-4124, or Julia Lamb, 501-276-2983.

Hot Springs Spin Doctors meets at 6 p.m. the first Monday of the month at Coffee Love, 4832 Central Ave. Join this group devoted to the love, listening and preservation of vinyl records. Anyone who collects and listens to vinyl records is welcome. Members share new, eclectic and hard-to-find music in a group setting. Bring LPs to show, trade, sell, and just hang out and listen. Call Mark Maybrey,

256-762-9061, or Doug Gulley, 501766-7280, for information.

A Community Coffee will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday at First Step Inc., 401 Carson St. The coffee is an informal monthly meeting of area community agencies to provide opportunities for networking. All are welcome. Refreshments will be provided. Call 624-6468 for information.

Spring Riders, the Hot Springs area chapter of Christian Motorcyclists Association, meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Smokin in Style BBQ , 2278 Albert Pike. All motorcycle riders and enthusiasts are welcome.

Hot Springs Emblem Club

194 Advisory Board will meet at 6 p.m. today at the Purple Cow restaurant on Higdon Ferry Road. All past presidents are encouraged to attend.