Dock plants help

[[172742]]

My mare is in individual turnout and her field is covered in docks, I know horses will usually eat around it but there isn’t a ton of grass because of the docks, she does get hay too though. She is only 4 and ideally I want to be at this yard for years so I want to clear the docks if possible. I’ve tried digging them up but the roots are so deep it’s impossible to get all the root up, spraying is not an option unfortunately. How would you tackle this? Was thinking of splitting her field up into smaller squares, rooting up as much dock as I can with a ragwort fork and then letting it regrow grass before moving on to the next patch and letting her graze on the new grown grass, does this sound like a good plan?

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

I suspect that's a field that needs to be sprayed, and totally re-seeded which means taking her off it completely until next year.

 

[Clodagh]

Just keep cutting them off whenever they grow. Way before they seed. It’ll take a while, and chemicals will be quicker, but you’ll get there. (More or less, I assume the whole yard is full if them so they’ll constantly reseed).

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

mow (preferably with a flail to mulch them up), or strim (less good). Frequently, just keep on it all summer.

ETA and avoid soil disturbance at all costs, seeds are very persistent in the seedbank but need light to germinate.

 

[Exasperated]

My mare is in individual turnout and her field is covered in docks, I know horses will usually eat around it but there isn’t a ton of grass because of the docks, she does get hay too though. She is only 4 and ideally I want to be at this yard for years so I want to clear the docks if possible. I’ve tried digging them up but the roots are so deep it’s impossible to get all the root up, spraying is not an option unfortunately. How would you tackle this? Was thinking of splitting her field up into smaller squares, rooting up as much dock as I can with a ragwort fork and then letting it regrow grass before moving on to the next patch and letting her graze on the new grown grass, does this sound like a good plan?

Doxstar herbicide, ideally. Why can’t you spray? Digging the buggers out is third-world laborious! And probably as well to over-sow some fresh grass seed where you’ve up-rooted, too.
You can kill weeds by cutting very close to ground and pouring tablespoons of salt into the sappy stump, when weather’s dry, but loads of salt isn’t then great for growing other stuff, and sounds like you’ve got a lot!
Goats will sometimes eat docks, if not much else available.
Whatever you decide, make sure they don’t seed further, cut their heads off into a bucket if necessary, and burn.
Good luck

 

[[172742]]

Doxstar herbicide, ideally. Why can’t you spray? Digging the buggers out is third-world laborious! And probably as well to over-sow some fresh grass seed where you’ve up-rooted, too.
You can kill weeds by cutting very close to ground and pouring tablespoons of salt into the sappy stump, when weather’s dry, but loads of salt isn’t then great for growing other stuff, and sounds like you’ve got a lot!
Goats will sometimes eat docks, if not much else available.
Whatever you decide, make sure they don’t seed further, cut their heads off into a bucket if necessary, and burn.
Good luck

Field would need to be rested for 2 weeks and no where else for her to t/o also if the spray goes to other fields, mines the only one with so many docks!

 

[HBB]

I spot spray them or take the ride on mower in to cut and collect them. Never let them establish as that's where the midgies and ticks hang out.

eta: I don't rest or remove the horses if I spot spray the docks, horses won't touch them.

 

[[172742]]

I spot spray them or take the ride on mower in to cut and collect them. Never let them establish as that's where the midgies and ticks hang out.

eta: I don't rest or remove the horses if I spot spray the docks, horses won't touch them.

What would I need to spot spray?

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I would split the field with electric fence then spray. Once the docks are dying off - and following instructions, then move horse and spray the other side. I spot spray with a back pack then once they start to wilt, say 4 days I go round again for any which were missed. Managed to clear my field in two years.

 

[HBB]

What would I need to spot spray?

I just have a basic 12L knapsack and use Resolva Lawn Extra Concentrate, it’s cheap and works quickly on docks.

 

[SpotsandBays]

We’ve got loads in our borrowed field. Last year I tried to pull a couple to see how easy it was and one of the plants had a root that was 4ft long! I gave up

 

[[172742]]

I just have a basic 12L knapsack and use Resolva Lawn Extra Concentrate, it’s cheap and works quickly on docks.

Thanks will speak to YO and see if she’d be happy with me doing this, pulling them is too long a job

 

[[172742]]

We’ve got loads in our borrowed field. Last year I tried to pull a couple to see how easy it was and one of the plants had a root that was 4ft long! I gave up

I was there for half hour today and think I pulled out 3 I would leave it if it was a bigger space and more grass but I just worry about her eating them and getting ill! The field is covered

 

[SpotsandBays]

I was there for half hour today and think I pulled out 3 I would leave it if it was a bigger space and more grass but I just worry about her eating them and getting ill! The field is covered

None of ours have ever shown any interest in eating them at any point in the year so I wouldn’t worry!

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

I just have a basic 12L knapsack and use Resolva Lawn Extra Concentrate, it’s cheap and works quickly on docks.

This isn't a product designed for this use though. There's no advice on withdrawal period and the datasheet specifically says keep away from animal foodstuffs, which would include the grass you're inevitably going to spray it on.

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

I was there for half hour today and think I pulled out 3 I would leave it if it was a bigger space and more grass but I just worry about her eating them and getting ill! The field is covered

If she was going to eat them they wouldn't still be there. They contain oxalic acid, so in enormous quantities they wouldn't be an ideal feed, but as already said horses are rarely interested in docks and small amounts will do no harm. Bear in mind if you spray (even if you spot spray) she will end up ingesting the chemicals in any grass that comes into contact with the spray. I think people assume grasses don't take up selective herbicides because they don't die, but this isn't the case.

 

[94lunagem]

My fields were bad when I first moved here and elbow grease and a ragwort fork did the trick for me. I do weed/spot spray yard and paths but not in the fields.

 

[HBB]

This isn't a product designed for this use though. There's no advice on withdrawal period and the datasheet specifically says keep away from animal foodstuffs, which would include the grass you're inevitably going to spray it on.

You missed my first post, I spot spray and it’s done carefully.

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

You missed my first post, I spot spray and it’s done carefully.

I didn't miss it but it's incredibly difficult not to include grass even spot spraying unless there's none at all to include. I wouldn't use a product on my horse's field if the datasheet said keep away from animal feedstuffs. This is why herbicides should only be available to people who've trained and not at all for amateur use.

 

[[172742]]

If she was going to eat them they wouldn't still be there. They contain oxalic acid, so in enormous quantities they wouldn't be an ideal feed, but as already said horses are rarely interested in docks and small amounts will do no harm. Bear in mind if you spray (even if you spot spray) she will end up ingesting the chemicals in any grass that comes into contact with the spray. I think people assume grasses don't take up selective herbicides because they don't die, but this isn't the case.

Yeah that’s true, I just worry if the grazing gets too sparse she’ll start to investigate, plus they look unsightly and it makes trying to find poo to poo pick harder

 

[spotty_pony2]

I’ve just topped mine with the ride on mower but they are mostly down one edge. I know it won’t kill them but it has made took better and the grass should hopefully out compete them this year. Interesting about the midges hanging out there - the day after I mowed mine my mare who suffers with sweet itch had a bad allergic reaction and has rubbed a bare patch on her back through her sweet itch rug - my guess is I disturbed the midges!

 

[BurntontheoutsideTurkey]

Yeah that’s true, I just worry if the grazing gets too sparse she’ll start to investigate, plus they look unsightly and it makes trying to find poo to poo pick harder

Plenty of hay usually does the trick. If you mow they are gone from a visual perspective.

 

[Exasperated]

Field would need to be rested for 2 weeks and no where else for her to t/o also if the spray goes to other fields, mines the only one with so many docks!

Doxstar - can return herbivores to their grazing in 7 days. That means your mare needs to be off the treated section for one week.
Split your field, do one half and later on, the other half. That will give the grass at least a chance to get going, but oversowing (which you can do by hand, from a bucket of grass seed) the really patchy / bare areas would be sensible to optimise your grazing.
Just don’t let docks get to seed!

 

[[172742]]

Doxstar - can return herbivores to their grazing in 7 days. That means your mare needs to be off the treated section for one week.
Split your field, do one half and later on, the other half. That will give the grass at least a chance to get going, but oversowing (which you can do by hand, from a bucket of grass seed) the really patchy / bare areas would be sensible to optimise your grazing.
Just don’t let docks get to seed!

They’ve already seeded it won’t let me upload pictures here but basically the whole field is mostly dock! I was thinking of oversowing the field, splitting in half and doing this and let rest before swapping over

 

[Exasperated]

None of ours have ever shown any interest in eating them at any point in the year so I wouldn’t worry!

Horses would be very unlikely to eat docks when there’s anything more palatable, but when weeds are dieing off they do release more sugars. Seven days is the Doxstar timeline, anyway, and dairy cattle can go onto the field.

 

[Exasperated]

They’ve already seeded it won’t let me upload pictures here but basically the whole field is mostly dock! I was thinking of oversowing the field, splitting in half and doing this and let rest before swapping over

No need, nobody wants to see a field full of docks, can assure you!
Why isn’t your landlord onto this? From what you say, doesn’t sound like there’s much grass in this rented grazing. Would be more sensible to tackle the docks before forking out on grass seed, though, and will probably need another mop-up next year if docks’ve already shed their seed.
good luck

 

[Peglo]

One of mine uses the docks as a toilet so I would not keep them in a field where they’ve been sprayed incase the spray burnt their legs.

 

[meleeka]

I had loads and i've just cut them every time they grow to around 6 inches. It's taken a few years, but they seem to be totally gone this year.

 

[Parksmum3]

Could you split the field in half with electric fencing and spot spray one side, leave for the appropriate amount of time then move across and do the other side? After spot sraying keep on top of it by mowing when they start showing as eventually it will kill them without disturbing the soil which can create more problems

 

[Errin Paddywack]

If you keep mowing them they will eventually die off. Just keep on top of it so they never grow enough leaf to help them grow.