Weed control (organic farming)

[Allover]

The horses i look after are kept on an organic farm, this time of year the weeds are starting to come through with a vengence. Am i correct in thinking that...........

a) If the fields are horrowed and topped now will it help to "kill off" the weeds and prevent them spreading

b) if they are left or not topped of regularly will they just take over the fields

c) if the answer to "b" is yes, then in a few years time will the fields become completely poached and need to have a complete overhaul (ploughed, resown etc)

Many thanks

 

[martlin]

as long as you keep cutting the weeds before they seed, it will stop them spreading, but will not eradicate them. What sort of weeds are we talking?

 

[Allover]

Mainly docks and nettles, in all the other yards i have worked on the farmers or land owners have been on top of field managment so i am on a bit of a learning curve!

There is also quite a lot of clover in 2 of the fields (from the seed bag info it should be max 16%). It was planted 3years ago to get some nitrogen (?) back into the ground, i think i read somewhere that to keep the clover from taking over the fields you need to keep it short this time of year, is that correct?

 

[Rhandir]

Shetland sheep do it for me ... as a last resort they will eat grass.

 

[Allover]

Shetland sheep do it for me ... as a last resort they will eat grass.

No offense but i would rather poke myself in the eye with a hot stick than have Shetlands, too bloody cheeky!!!!

 

[Rhandir]

Really .... we are talking sheep here and not ponies..My little sheep do a great job, tidy up the hedges too.

 

[Allover]

Ahh i saw Shetland and panicked!!

 

[Rhandir]

The only things they have in common with the ponies is that they are small and very tough. Understandable mistake though