Are these sycamore seedlings? Pic...

[Marnie]

Hi all,

I have just found out that a tree in the yard is a sycamore. My two gave been grazing in a small paddock near it (it isn't actually in there) that I used on very odd occasions last summer but it has a couple of fruit trees that can be reached with a long neck so I avoided it.

I've had a good look when I was poo picking this evening and found the plants in the pictures along the fence line - does anyone know if they are sycamore seedlings?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Probably, I would pull them all up to be on the safe side.

 

[Evie91]

I’d say they were sycamore seedlings.

 

[lamlyn2012]

Yes they are.

 

[cobgoblin]

Definitely.

 

[meleeka]

Yes

 

[Marnie]

Thank you everyone, I did Google and thought they probably were but just wanted to check.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Yup, unfortunately so. Just waiting for mine to come through a bit more before I go and start pulling them.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yes, I've been pulling them the last 3 weeks, I don't have any sycamore trees, but my adjacent neighbour has 1 tree. These seedlings are up to 500 metres away from the tree.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Yes - do pull them ASAP. Its a horrible back breaking job but has to be done.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yes I pull them and fence the worst bits off they do die off before summer.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Yup. Once you get your eye in for them you end up seeing the bliddy things everywhere too so be prepared for a long job!

I seem to have got an eye for them while they are still inside the seed shell this year. You can see the little shell sticking up from the ground on a stalk. It's good because I'm catching a lot of them early but it's maddening because the more I look the more I see.

The new neighbours have just said today that they are going to get rid of their sycamores though so they are now my new favourite people ?

 

[L&M]

Yes afraid so - we picked a whole bucketful today which took 2 of us nearly 2 hrs, but worth it for peace of mind.......

 

[L&M]

Yes, I've been pulling them the last 3 weeks, I don't have any sycamore trees, but my adjacent neighbour has 1 tree. These seedlings are up to 500 metres away from the tree.

Ditto....

 

[Errin Paddywack]

We started looking yesterday and found loads like this. We have three trees on our boundary, one planted by my sister long before the problem was known about. Unfortunately they aren't somewhere that is suitable for felling them or they would be down.

 

[Marnie]

Thank you for all the responses.

So I went and had a good look this morning and as well as along the fence line there are some seedlings in the paddock. It is pretty grazed down so I am worried as to how many the pair of them may have eaten already. I've left them in for now and I won't put them back out until I'm happy that there aren't any left but is there anything that I should do to see if they have any damage e.g. bloods?

 

[Spottyappy]

Thank you for all the responses.

So I went and had a good look this morning and as well as along the fence line there are some seedlings in the paddock. It is pretty grazed down so I am worried as to how many the pair of them may have eaten already. I've left them in for now and I won't put them back out until I'm happy that there aren't any left but is there anything that I should do to see if they have any damage e.g. bloods?

I believe you can get a blood test through your vet.
here is some information from the RVC:
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/labo...atypical-myopathy-testing-for-vets-and-owners

 

[Snow Falcon]

I moved our 3 forest girls out of the field with bleeding sycamores in today to a field with grass in. Needless to say they were happy. Who would have horses eh? Year round things to look out for!! Wretched seedlings, acorns, fresh grass...........

 

[Goldenstar]

Mowing them works it you have access to a ride on mower .

 

[Marnie]

I've picked quite a few - walked over the paddock a couple of times so am pretty confident I've got most of them. They were mostly in the fence line but there were a few in the middle which makes me worry that they may have eaten some - they both seem ok but will give my vet a ring in the morning to see if there is anything I should do.

Thank you again for all the help.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Mowing them works it you have access to a ride on mower .

How long do you leave the paddock after you've mowed them? (assuming your mower spits out rather than collecting)

 

[Goldenstar]

I leave them for two weeks if the weather is not too wet .

 

[Goldenstar]

There’s lots this year .

 

[JoWoollerton]

Hi all,


I've had a good look when I was poo picking this evening and found the plants in the pictures along the fence line - does anyone know if they are sycamore seedlings?

Thanks for any help!

I'm glad you've been pro-active by pulling them up. 'If in doubt - pull it out!' has always been my moto. All Acer seedlings seem to look the same to me We have Field Maple in the hedgerows but, a neighbouring property has the dreaded Sycamore. Although I've never had any trouble distinguishing between the different Acer helicopter seed pods, to me, it almost impossible to tell the difference when they're seedlings. I'm sure the experts don't have any trouble though ...

I wish all horsey folk were as fastidious as you

 

[Marnie]

I spoke to my vet this morning and hopefully based on the time frame, there shouldn't be any effects if they haven't been seen already. I'm happy that I've got them all out so far and am checking when I poo pick (daily) for any more.

Thanks again for all the help and advice!

 

[Frans]

Thank you so much for posting this OP - realised the plants I had dismissed as NOT Sycamore seedlings actually are! Ponies now off the field

 

[brighteyes]

Yes - I'd better warn my loaner...

 

[Lois Lame]

I've picked quite a few - walked over the paddock a couple of times so am pretty confident I've got most of them. They were mostly in the fence line but there were a few in the middle which makes me worry that they may have eaten some - they both seem ok but will give my vet a ring in the morning to see if there is anything I should do.

Thank you again for all the help.

View attachment 68619

They will have found it easier to germinate at the fence line because they are protected there from trampling. (ETA: Also, they get caught there after a bit of a ride on the wind.) So it doesn't necessarily mean that all the others that landed on grass managed to germinate and then get eaten. (ETA: Or that the quantity found at the fence line would be the same as in the field.)

Brilliant job you've done.

(EagainTA: gee, I hope my post is readable with those edits)

 

[COldNag]

How long do you leave the paddock after you've mowed them? (assuming your mower spits out rather than collecting)

My lawn is absolutely covered with them thanks to my neighbour's sycamore. I have never seen anything like it. I tried mowing this weekend and it didn't make any difference .

I think they need to grow on a bit more before that will be effective . I will try again next weekend.

No idea about how long to leave them for after, sorry.

 

[Lois Lame]

I agree, OldNag. The mower has to be able to reach those little tops of the seedlings. The seedlings cannot survive once those tops have been removed.