Sycamore seedlings

[Muddy unicorn]

Our winter field suddenly has hundreds of sycamore seedlings which have sprouted in the last week or so. I don’t think pulling them up by hand is feasible as there are so many of them . The horses aren’t grazing that part of the field as I’ve just opened up a section of new grass and they’ll be going into a different field in a few weeks once we get the fencing sorted. Would it be ok to leave them there for now, then harrow and weed the survivors? Or do I need to get them all out now? Sheep are not an option unless they come with their own fencing - we have dry stone walls and wooden posts with two strands of electric rope which are fine for the horses but wouldn’t contain sheep.

 

[HelenBack]

I don't know the answer but I'm following as I'm in a similar situation. I've tried to obtain information online but generally it's not very helpful apart from saying either not to graze the area or to pick up seeds and seedlings, which isn't always doable.

I read somewhere not to harrow but I think that was more for the seeds in the autumn rather than the seedlings. And I did read that spraying could help but you have to use the right spray. Other than that I don't know and I don't know if there's a point at which it becomes safe if you can't get them all out.

 

[MereChristmas]

One suggestionIf the land is flat mow it closely and remove the cuttings. Only return the horses when no more seedlings grow.

 

[asmp]

You’ve just reminded me I saw one that needs pulling. All our sycamores were cut down a few years ago after a pony in the yard was poisoned

 

[Art Nouveau]

There's a test to see if they're toxic https://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/faci...owners-atypical-myopathy-test-and-information

I thought it was £90 but seems that was an Introductory offer and it's over £130! Possibly feasible if you only had one or two trees, and don't have the time for the picking/mowing alternatives.

I assume if the seeds had been tested in autumn, then you could be confident the seedlings in spring are also safe, so only need to test once a year normally

 

[Burnttoast]

Mow low and collect the arisings is the best way.

 

[PurBee]

I’d pull them by hand if you have no machinery to mow and collect. Then book a tree surgeon to remove the sycamore trees entirely!
You’ll be amazed how many hundreds can be pulled a day - its just boring work.
Horse folk should have sycamore seedling-pulling parties - you get an alcoholic drink for every 50 pulled

If the horses have pressed the seeds into the soil because theyve been grazing the area this winter, you can be fairly sure the seedlings that have sprouted now are the majority, and few will sprout after the removal of this lot.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Thanks - we can mow and collect - I just need to wait until the field’s dried out a bit first…

There’s a big, old sycamore in the corner of the field which is where most of them have come from but even if that’s gone there are sycamores on neighbouring properties so presumably they’ll be scattering seeds far and wide too.

We only moved the horses in just before Christmas so I hadn’t been able to clear sycamore leaves and seeds as by that time they were starting to mulch into the ground. Next autumn I will be prepared!

 

[Burnttoast]

The seeds do travel but the lightest (ie the least viable) seeds travel furthest, so it can be worth taking down closer trees (if they're yours). You could coppice it, then it won't produce seeds if cut regularly, or remove entirely and replace with a friendlier species.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Our winter field suddenly has hundreds of sycamore seedlings which have sprouted in the last week or so. I don’t think pulling them up by hand is feasible as there are so many of them . The horses aren’t grazing that part of the field as I’ve just opened up a section of new grass and they’ll be going into a different field in a few weeks once we get the fencing sorted. Would it be ok to leave them there for now, then harrow and weed the survivors? Or do I need to get them all out now? Sheep are not an option unless they come with their own fencing - we have dry stone walls and wooden posts with two strands of electric rope which are fine for the horses but wouldn’t contain sheep.

You can buy electric sheep netting to keep them in. Ime sheep are definitely the best way to deal with Sycamore seedlings.