Ragwort!!! - Headland Polo

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Kimmi9080

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I am currently using Headland Polo on my paddock, does anyone know if this rots it down or do we have to dig the plants out after they have gone brown and crispy.

Also whats everyone's opinion on Headland Polo, my paddock has a major ragwort problem and i have sprayed it 3 times (inc 1 spot on spray) and some are dead and some look healthy and new plants are coming through!!! Someone please tell me it works!! I want my pony home lol!!

Anyone else got any tips or tricks to get rid of this horrible weed without killing all the grass

Thanks x
 
We used Headland Polo a couple of years ago & as you say, it killed the smaller rosettes, but only stunted the stronger plants, which struggled on & even managed to produce flowers although the plants looked strange. I read the label the farmer gave me & I think it would be better to have used it in September, followed by another blast in April/May.

I still had to dig out the surviving plants & would say it only killed 50% at most, because of the stage some of the plants were when it was applied. Subsequent plants could well appear after spraying from dormant seeds or those just about to emerge.
 
I'v also got a paddock that's riddled with the stuff! I normally use polo but it takes a good 2-3 weeks to eventually get rid, which includes for them to totally wilt down and dissappear. It's best to spray when they're at the rosette stage, any bigger and I'd top them and then spray. This year I'v used thrust, similar price but covers a smaller area and is quicker acting, took 10 days to go! Will have to do again in a month though as I get so much of the stuff!!
 
I just found your post through google. We had the exact same problem in spring last year. My neighbour is a groundsman for a cricket club and recommended headland polo to us.

I can't remeber what site we bought it from but i'm sure the product is the same regardless of website. I just did a quick search and found this: Headland Polo. The site recommends to apply the headland polo in good growing conditions, ie when it's sunny and slightly damp, and to apply twice a year; once in April/May and another application in September/October.

According to the page the Ragwort should die off within 2 weeks. If the ragwort hasn't disappeared it should probably be removed manually as dead ragwort is still poisonous if eaten by animals (in this case your Pony).

Good luck with getting rid of the Ragwort and hopefully you can bring your Pony back home soon!

Thanks x
 
Just read your post, i had a massive problem with ragwort last year and i found out that as long as one of the active ingredients is Glyphosate it will kill it. But you have to wait a while till it has killed it completely, it dose go brown and crispy but eventually it completely goes.
 
Hi,

Ragwort is one of the difficult things to get rid of, it's tough and will withstand various chemicals.

If the situation gets really bad sometimes the best way to deal with this is to literally start again. Top off right down and the use an inetsive chemical (think Roundup) which will mean killing everything, or certainly damaging everything.

Obviously you will need to keep everything off the land, I would then trun the land over with the rotivator and rest it, let the ragwort young plants come through again (thislte will also be the first through), and treat again.

Rest, then reseed and your paddock is back to being a lovely grass mix again.

Choose a mix to best suit your land and also the animals grazing it.

Then the main 'husbandry' is to keep on top of them as you go along, so a weekly check about should help alot.

Sorry it's not an overly technical explanation, I have posted before it's my husband who is a farmer by living so I just pick bits up as I go along.

Topping helps, though if you are not able to go for the total start again approach, and then treating.
September is right.

Also we have been so dry recently some chemicals rely upon the damp for the uptake.
 
PLEASE PLEASE do not top ragwort and leave in the field for horses or cattle to eat.
Once wilted it is more palatable and may be eaten.

Hard graft and keeping on top of it with a ragfork, removing and careful disposal of plants is the best way. Dont forget your own health, gloves and dont stand over a bonfire if you burn plants.

As previous poster if you are starting with new land and need to get rid of serious infestation, kill everything and reseed.
 
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