Breagha
Well-Known Member
I am looking for recommendations of the best product to use to get rid of ragwort. We do pull it but there is so much in the field that I need another solution along side pulling. TIA!
Best product to get rid of ragwort??
- Thread starter Breagha
- Start date
Keith_Beef
Novice equestrian, accomplished equichetrian
Breagha
Well-Known Member
Thanks - we do have one of those on the yard. Will need to check if there is gas for it.
Sprig
Well-Known Member
Pulling really is the best. If you use weed killer you need to keep the horses off the field for a long time as the wilted plants can be v palatable for them. Can you buy in some extra help? I know that we have quite a few people locally who offer a ragwort pulling service and I am sure that there are plenty of people who would do it for an hourly rate if you were relatively flexible on when they came.
Jeni the dragon
Well-Known Member
I mix vinegar, salt and washing up liquid which kills it pretty well. Just waiting for some sunshine to get mine done!
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
A ragfork is a good help.
Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
The best way is with a rag fork. When I arrived at current yard the paddocks given to me had not been properly maintained by the previous liveries. It's the liveries responsibility to get rid of ragwort where I am. So I gradually dug the ragwort out by hand from 3 large paddocks so now I only find the occasional plant. It was hard work but once done the problem is easily maintained.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
A professional contractor will be useful if (as above) you can keep the horses off for 6-8 weeks while it rots (or if you can collect the dead plants after 2 weeks).
I found pulling unless you are amazingly particular about getting every bit of root out just resulted in next year having 8 mini plants in the same place.
A mix of agritox and depitox worked well for us.
I found pulling unless you are amazingly particular about getting every bit of root out just resulted in next year having 8 mini plants in the same place.
A mix of agritox and depitox worked well for us.
millikins
Well-Known Member
I use Grazon 90 as a spot weed killer and it works well. I've given up pulling, I find it creates lots of little bare patches, in effect mini seed beds. If I miss any I cut the flowers off, as a biennial it will die off after flowering naturally.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
Rag seeds live for 25 years in the soil and pulling / digging disturbs the soil allowing new seeds space to germinate.
Digging is a long game job !!
Digging is a long game job !!
Breagha
Well-Known Member
I do normally pull but seem to spend most of my time doing it. My paddock is in 2 sections so keeping them off the grass isn't an issue.
I have heard this works. What quantities do you use?
I have one and do use it but would like something else along side - thank you though. x
We cleared the field last year but its just as bad.
My paddock is split into 2 so can easily keep them off one side.
Thanks
.
Breagha
Well-Known Member
Its a very long game!
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
You're a bit late for any spraying this year.
The absolute best thing for keeping it down is grazing sheep on it. Second best thing, which is hopeless if you have horses, is spreading slurry on it. Third best thing is keep pulling.
The absolute best thing for keeping it down is grazing sheep on it. Second best thing, which is hopeless if you have horses, is spreading slurry on it. Third best thing is keep pulling.
Quigleyandme
Well-Known Member
If it is a really extensive infestation over a large area I’d get a contractor in to spray it off. if not too bad I’d knapsack spray it myself. I got rid of loads of docks last year with my inexpensive but trusty Wilko knapsack sprayer.
windand rain
Well-Known Member
I pulled it for 10 years it never really improved had it professionally sprayed and its about gone took two years spraying but mostly gone doing the fields we used while the others were sprayed this year next month I hope. I have used headland spear to spot spray
PurBee
Well-Known Member
I use similar - except its a kerosene heavy-duty beast i call ‘the dragon’!
https://www.quickcrop.ie/product/sheen-x300-flamegun
Burning the persistent big weeds like docks/rag/thistles 2 times weakens the roots, the plant cant re-generate. Also the heat of the gun will kill all seeds laying around the plant, so preventing re-germination. Also burning on the second go around means you can incinerate the weed to almost ash, making it safe to immediately graze.
Much better than a chemical approach, as herbicides wont kill seeds, you have to remove the dead plant material, and cheaper/quicker/ healthier for all in my experience.
But if its really badly infested and rented land - i’d look for other land to rent personally than spend so much effort dealing with others dis-regard of noxious weeds....as theyll be millions of seeds all over the paddock if its been neglected land, and you’ll fight it every year.
The whole lot would need burning - shame that practice was out-lawed as its possibly contributed to lands becoming heavily weed infested since.
If its your own land and are getting seed drift from other unkempt lands, and it’s below 5% infested, its worth the burn gun approach.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
I thought "Spray in May stay away" was the right timing. It's been so cold and dry here (in Yorkshire !!) that the grass and weeds haven't really got going yet. I thought (but stand to be corrected) that we should spray when weeds are vigorously growing so they soak it all up quickly and die quickly.
Then "Spray in June" be back soon as it's too late when they are really established.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
On neighbouring - uncared for council land - I take a bin bag and heavy duty scissors and cut off all the heads just before they flower and infest my land - much quicker than digging someone else's problem but also gives me a bit of protection.
Jeni the dragon
Well-Known Member
@Breagha I get a 5litre bottle and roughly half fill with vinegar then add as much salt as it will absorb, then around an inch of washing up liquid! Chinese supermarket is the best (cheapest!) place I've found to buy ingredients!
scruffyponies
Well-Known Member
If you are able to keep the horses off the land for several months afterwards, by far the easiest way to get rid is to wait until it flowers, then mow or top it.
We did this out of desperation, because we can't use chemicals on the water meadow, but actually it's extremely successful. Once in flower, all the energy has gone from roots, so that's the best time to top or pull it, otherwise it grows back.
We did this out of desperation, because we can't use chemicals on the water meadow, but actually it's extremely successful. Once in flower, all the energy has gone from roots, so that's the best time to top or pull it, otherwise it grows back.
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
Ragweet should be done at the floret stage.
laura_nash
Well-Known Member
We had ours sprayed with Mortox 50 on advise of the local farmers co-op. Worked brilliantly. Obviously have to keep everything off until the dead plants are gone.