Jenko109
Well-Known Member
I let the ragwort get on top of me last year.
This year, I have pulled a few up every day. It has made it far more manageable.
This year, I have pulled a few up every day. It has made it far more manageable.
Ragwort woes
- Thread starter Highmileagereindeer
- Start date
BurntontheoutsideTurkey
Well-Known Member
Seed dropped by birds probably. I have black nightshade from time to time but I try not to let it seed. None of the common nightshades are palatable or particularly toxic though. Persicarias aren't toxic but can get quite spready if they like the conditions.
Boughtabay
Well-Known Member
Thankyou! Yeah it’s spread pretty wildly in the poo patches … I suppose that’ll spread more when I harrow
the never ending cycleBurntontheoutsideTurkey
Well-Known Member
Can you top to stop it seeding and harrow after? Some people find it can go a bit crazy and be hard to get back under control.Thankyou! Yeah it’s spread pretty wildly in the poo patches … I suppose that’ll spread more when I harrow
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
we dee poo every day, and while a livery rakes a poo up when singularly poo i get off and pull ragwort, we done 3 acres, and i been round the other 2 just by doing an hr at a time, we have 98% got all the ones with flowers. We don't need the ragwort fairies.
Highmileagereindeer
Well-Known Member
General observations, based on experience.
Ragwort is a biennial. It grows one year, and flowers the next. The plant dies after flowering.
Cutting the flowering stem off to prevent it going to seed makes the plant continue to throw up flower stems until it has gone to seed. For years if need be.
Seeds are more likely to fall to the ground around an existing plant, as the seeding stem wilts and collapses. Not much blows away.
Digging out the plants is really the only way of reducing the ragwort infestation. Spraying works, but do you want to spray?
Leaving broken roots in the ground will produce yet another ragwort plant.
Ragwort has a sour, musty smell which deters horses from grazing around plants.
Last year all our livery people got together, and we blitzed ten acres over a three week period, digging out every last bit. We have walked the field this week, and there is more coming up, although large tracts are clean. Hopefully, another couple of weekends will see most of it gone.
Best wishes to all who struggle with this flower of the devil.
Ragwort is a biennial. It grows one year, and flowers the next. The plant dies after flowering.
Cutting the flowering stem off to prevent it going to seed makes the plant continue to throw up flower stems until it has gone to seed. For years if need be.
Seeds are more likely to fall to the ground around an existing plant, as the seeding stem wilts and collapses. Not much blows away.
Digging out the plants is really the only way of reducing the ragwort infestation. Spraying works, but do you want to spray?
Leaving broken roots in the ground will produce yet another ragwort plant.
Ragwort has a sour, musty smell which deters horses from grazing around plants.
Last year all our livery people got together, and we blitzed ten acres over a three week period, digging out every last bit. We have walked the field this week, and there is more coming up, although large tracts are clean. Hopefully, another couple of weekends will see most of it gone.
Best wishes to all who struggle with this flower of the devil.