Ragwort - professional spraying cost ?

[taceann]

Dug / pulled it last year which was my first summer in current field. Just about as much of it this year so have had a go digging and spraying with Barrier H so far. Its driving me nuts. Its fenced off from the neds with electric and just seems an utter waste of a third of a field as can't use it. Parts of it would have some lovely grass if only THAT stuff wasnt in there as well.

There is probably about 3/4 acre of the stuff. Does anybody have any idea how much it might cost to get somebody in with some professional strength spray to do that sort of area ? I've no idea really - trying to balance up against cost of Barrier H is fairly expensive and digging with my creaky knees. It might have to do this year but just thinking to next year .... Thanks

 

[Tammytoo]

The only problem with spraying is that you still have to get rid of the dead ragwort as it is more palatable when dead. The Barrier spray is supposed to cause the dead plant to disintigrate after 2-3 weeks, buit I would check carefully before turning horses out on the field.

Just to cheer you up, ragwort seeds can lie dormant for years, so one session of spraying won't necessarily solve the problem but it should slow things down!

 

[exquisitus]

If its just Ragwort to control then I would blanket spray the area with Headland Polo. Three quarters of an acre would probably use about £5 worth of chemical...

The main cost for a professional will be travelling, setting up, washing out etc. for a small area.
I suspect you'd be looking at £75 for someone to come in and do it.

If you were my neighbour I would do it for £25 assuming the field is clear and you'd happy to fit in to when I'm spraying other such fields.

 

[taceann]

Thanks that sounds fairly reasonable. A Barrier h is getting on for £40+ so not really much more and a professional would obviously have better spraying equipment. Might well consider it for next year.

TBH is has been sprayed now for 3 days and nothing much seems to have happened.... !

 

[exquisitus]

Thanks that sounds fairly reasonable. A Barrier h is getting on for £40+ so not really much more and a professional would obviously have better spraying equipment. Might well consider it for next year.

TBH is has been sprayed now for 3 days and nothing much seems to have happened.... !

Depending on what you've sprayed it with, it may take weeks, even a month or two in some instances e.g. amidosulfuron

I usually treat my fields with Pastor, once on top of the weeds, it just needs a little spot spraying each year to keep things tidy.

Although Ragwort isn't a label weed for Pastor, I find there aren't many weeds that escape it.