Sorting out weeds in paddock, long ish...

[Troggy]

Just after a bit of advice really.

We have one field (an acre i think, possibly a bit bigger) that we have divided in to 2 and use one half in summer and one in winter. This usually works well and last spring we had the summer field sprayed with weed killer (had to be rested for 2 weeks so did whilst ponies on winter paddock) and the field is in really good condition, being strip grazed now and have about a month's worth of grazing left.
My problem is the winter paddock, because of the very wet winter, it's got a lot of buttercups/daises growing on it (had one clump of ragwort but pulled that and not had anymore). The buttercups are now dead but still got a few daisies (looks like the buttercup leafy bits are still there though!). Our neighbouring farmers have said they can't spray it as wrong time of year but it couldn't be done at spring as needed somewhere to put horses when other half was rested/sprayed. The back half of the winter field is better and is quite good grass.
What I am wanting to know is would it be best to fence off the worst and let them trash the rest of it over winter and start from scratch next year? Or is there anyway I can clear it before this winter? Are buttercups harmful once dead? What about daisies? I know neither are preferable but there is some good grass there as well….

Sorry for ramble!

 

[spaniel]

Buttercups and daisies are often indicators of wet/overstocked ground and unless you spray them regulalrly have a nasty habit of taking over.

There are 2 mian varieties, the creeping one and the meadow one and both are MILDLY poisonous if eaten fresh but safe in hay.
They are best sprayed before they flower but you can treat them later if they are still growing strongly.

The best way to tackle the ground is to fertilize it before you spray the buttercups, that way the grass grows strongly as the buttercups die, the grass then smothers the buttercups.

Thats the theory!

 

[debsflo]

same problem ive been told you can spray now and in spring something like 2 4 d or the new one for ragwort is meant for buttercups leave horses off for few weeks

 

[Troggy]

Thank you

Yes that half of the field is nearly always wet, neighbours said they think it has an underground spring near the middle of it!
Interesting they can be sprayed now, will see if neighbours are happy to do it, if not will see if anything I can buy and do myself. Just want to get rid of the worst so it's safe to use over winter then sort it out next year.
Good tip re fertalizer, thank you!

 

[Troggy]

thank you, will see about getting it done now

 

[jrp204]

Buttercups are sometimes a sign of low pH, and until you sort that out you'll be wasting your time with sprays, see if you can get someone to test your field.

 

[spaniel]

You would need a much longer term plan if this is the case, liming every 5 years plus fertilising with NP or NPK twice a year and then reseeding.

In the short term the fertilising and spraying would be my choice.