Best product to get rid of ragwort??

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Breagha

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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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Polos Mum said:
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.
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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.
 
Sprig said:
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.
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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.

Jeni the dragon said:
I mix vinegar, salt and washing up liquid which kills it pretty well. Just waiting for some sunshine to get mine done!
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I have heard this works. What quantities do you use?

Gloi said:
A ragfork is a good help.
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I have one and do use it but would like something else along side - thank you though. x

Toby_Zaphod said:
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.
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We cleared the field last year but its just as bad. :(

Polos Mum said:
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.
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My paddock is split into 2 so can easily keep them off one side.

millikins said:
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.
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Thanks


.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
Keith_Beef said:
Burn it with a gas or electric powered weed burner.
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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.
 
Rowreach said:
You're a bit late for any spraying this year.
.
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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.
 
@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!
 
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.
 
Polos Mum said:
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.
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Ragweet should be done at the floret stage.
 
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