ragwort - best way to deal with?

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dragonflys

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I am going to be renting some new paddocks soon but have noticed quite a bit of ragwort sprouting up in different places.

Whats the best way to deal with?
Ragfork or spray? and if spray what do you use?

I think there maybe too much to fork out but if thats the best way then thats what i will do.
I have a little where i am atm, and just fork out but not sure for bigger area.

Thanks :)
 
Having done both my preference is for pulling and burning, I have a ragfork but find it no better that pulling by hand regarding roots breaking and it does make it slower to get around. I have sprayed in the past and found the dying and dead plants meant you couldn't use the pasture at all until all traces had broken down to nothing.
 
If you pull ragwort out you will inevitibly leave some of the root structures in the ground and they will regenerate to form new plants. I tend to electric fence off an area and spay the ragwort twice (Barrier H etc) at a weeks interval and then wait for it to die. I then renmove it and burn it. That way it will not grow back. Take in to account that ragwort only flowers every second year.
 
Make sure you wear gloves when dealing with Ragwort, I know for most people its common sense but my friend had really bad ragwort in her fields she pulled it all out by hand and couldnt figure out why she was feeling so ill until doctor told her she was damaging her liver. Bless what an idiot.
 
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