Ragwort advice

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I don’t like mondays

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I’ve been offered an extra field by YO which is 0.5acres for an extra monthly fee. It’s full of ragwort. Initially thought I could hand pull/dig it but once you’re in the field you realise the extent of it, it’s so dense in places with more ragwort than grass. Also it’s not the biggest field to start with. Any advice of what I can do? I’m assuming spraying won’t work on flowers. Don’t want to pay for a field I can’t use but equally I’ve just bought another horse so need the space and this is the only field on offer. I keep my existing field under control by pulling it up but this field has got out of control (the worst I’ve seen probably 75% is ragwort). Thanks
 
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You ll have to pull it out by hand if you want to use it in the near future. I’m not sure I’d be paying for land I’ve got to clear first…what stops the landowner getting your money…and getting the land cleared then saying oh no I need the land back now. Sorry I’ve been “had” in similar kind of situation and my view may be skewed.
 
Thanks all. Yes it’s so tricky. If it was an afternoons work to clear it that would be ok (which is what I initially thought) but it’s so dense (like nothing I’ve seen before). They said about spraying but I’m assuming you can’t spray at this stage anyway?
 
I don’t like mondays said:
Thanks all. Yes it’s so tricky. If it was an afternoons work to clear it that would be ok (which is what I initially thought) but it’s so dense (like nothing I’ve seen before). They said about spraying but I’m assuming you can’t spray at this stage anyway?
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No it will just go to seed faster. The plants are on their way out at this stage so spraying's just a waste of money and not great for the environment or your horses. You could cut the flowerheads off to stop them seeding, and burn them, and then work through the field slowly pulling up the stalks. But that still puts the onus on you which is not acceptable if they're charging you money.
 
There are people who advertise a ragwort clearing service, who will dig and pull without spraying. Bear in mind that it will come back again and again. Any previous weeds will have dropped seeds, and seed can survive for twenty years or so. Seeds germinate on disturbed earth, so horses running around will definitely bring up a new crop. Sorry to be so negative, but we have ragwort on our pasture and struggle to clear it every year. Hate the stuff.
 
Burnttoast said:
No it will just go to seed faster. The plants are on their way out at this stage so spraying's just a waste of money and not great for the environment or your horses. You could cut the flowerheads off to stop them seeding, and burn them, and then work through the field slowly pulling up the stalks. But that still puts the onus on you which is not acceptable if they're charging you money.
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Yes, if you really do want to use this paddock long term, cutting flowerheads straight into bags before the seeds float = essential.
But even pulling out all the plants subsequently, there will already be quite a lot of seeds in the ground, where any disturbance stimulates those into growth....
You could take the horses off next spring and blanket spray what comes through; probably have to keep firefighting for several cycles; and would definitely be worth broadcast-sowing some horse-paddock, grass mix....
This is a great deal of effort and expense that the landowner really ought to be investing, do be sure you are going to get some long term benefit.
(Would save money on gym membership and going out, you’ll be far too tired!)
 
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