Red Bartsia

[StableMum]

Has anyone else been invaded by this evil weed this year? I can't say that I was ever aware of if before, but we have one field that is absolutely covered with it, and we've noticed that a lot of the pasture around has large purple patches of it. Apparently there is no weed killer that will touch it and the only option is pulling it up. It's invasive and will kill the grazing, so can't be ignored. Agggg!

 

[be positive]

It is an annual so the best way to get rid of it is to prevent it seeding, pulling taking care to do it before it has gone to seed so no risk of the seeds being spread even further should stop it coming back next year, or cutting it back regularly to prevent flowering should also work.

 

[StableMum]

We are busy pulling at the moment. Good to know it won't be in vain. We'll top at the first sign next year.

 

[whiteflower]

We have had it on and off over the years 24d will kill it but only at the very early stages. The field we sprayed beginning may has none at all this year whilst the other fields that were sprayed later have loads so lots of pulling ahead. It's a right pain in the bum !! It really wrecks the grass

 

[Pen]

We also have had this parasitic weed for a few years and despite religious pulling some still pops back up again but we are on top of it now. I thought it was just a pretty little wild flower the first time I saw it so I left it to grow

 

[hairycob]

There was masses in my paddocks when I moved to current yard. I pull a bit every day and this year there has hardly been any.

 

[StableMum]

Hairycob, thats encouraging.

 

[njandrews]

I had almost all of one field destroyed by this/. Weedkiller takes many many applications. I tried mowing it really short repeatedly and sowed the grass seed quite heavily It dies and never came back. The few that did I used Diamon on or pulled up