Buttercups

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rubyrumba

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I have loads of buttercups well on their way and not much grass growing. I can't get anyone to come and look at the moment as they all seem to be busy ploughing and i only have about 5 acres. I don't mind spraying them by hand but i am a little unsure as to what i should do? Any help much appreciated. Thanks.
 
Have you had the ph tested? Buttercups and poor ley establishment are classic signs of low ph. You will be wasting your time spraying if this is the problem.
 
Well i have been advised to spray, have more grass seed put down and then use calcified seaweed and then it should be ok. I don't know what to spray with etc though.
 
Nothing you can spray with that will solve the problem of buttercups so who ever is advising has really not got their facts straight. Your pH is too low so you need to increase that by using lime, buttercups will not grow if you have a pH near 6.6 which is the optimal pH for grass growth. Once the pH is nearer 6.6 grass will grow strongly and the buttercups will stop so you will get increased grass cover - so no need to over seed with grass. Lime is also relatively cheap, i spread mine at a rate of one tonne and acre and it cost me £38 an acre delivered and spread.
 
So just interupting this post as i also have the same problem, when is the best time to spread lime? Are we to late in the yr now? Or to early?
 
but now is too late for thius years buttercups. Before spreading lime get a soil analysis sample done, find out what you are actually dealing with. Once you are armed with that information you can make an educated decision about what to do.
 
I don't think its too late to spray. I've been told the time to spray is when the leaves are there, but before the flowers open. As its such a late spring the leaves have only just really appeared in my bad paddock. I've got a weed control company coming to spray in around a week (sorry I don't know what they will use, but can ask them when they come if you want?)

PH level fine in my case. It was 0.1 off the perfect level (can't remember whether above or below). In my case its got buttercups because the paddock was sacrificed/over grazed due to having piggy ponies with weight issues lol
 
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