Blackthorn suckers

[The Ruminant]

How do people control them? Flail / top / spray / sheep / goats / chemical / fire(!) / other?
How often do you have to repeat your control method?

 

[Agrivator]

MCPA + 2,4D.

I would advice folk not to plant Blackthorn. It is just too invasive.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

MCPA + 2,4D.

I would advice folk not to plant Blackthorn. It is just too invasive.

But think of the Sloes...

 

[The Ruminant]

Any effective way of controlling them without using chemicals? I sell all my meat direct to the consumer and they nearly always want reassurance that I don’t use chemicals.

 

[organicguy]

Mower, hedgecutter and topper every year!
I am sure there is a connection between cutting time and severity that makes them switch between growing up and rooting out but I haven't worked out what it is.
On the bright side, if the hedge is a bit thin you can let them grow up, trim the sides hard and in 5 years have some lovely young pleachers to lay!

 

[Agrivator]

Any effective way of controlling them without using chemicals? I sell all my meat direct to the consumer and they nearly always want reassurance that I don’t use chemicals.

I presume you won't use tractor diesel either!!!!

 

[The Ruminant]

I presume you won't use tractor diesel either!!!!

They don’t ask about that although I do try to avoid using it as much as possible. I’ve one small group of cows/ yearling calves that has had four small bales of hay all winter and that’s it for “tractor” time. Apart from that they’ve lived on unfertilised pasture all year round

 

[Agrivator]

They don’t ask about that although I do try to avoid using it as much as possible. I’ve one small group of cows/ yearling calves that has had four small bales of hay all winter and that’s it for “tractor” time. Apart from that they’ve lived on unfertilised pasture all year round

My bone of contention is that mechanical methods of weed control tend to use more harmful diesel and involve much more machinery usage, compared to the more environmentally and much cheaper method of blanket or spot spraying with MCPA/2,4D type herbicides.

And I have shown many times that the use of these chemicals suppresses ''allelopathic'' weeds such as creeping thistles, and allows little colourful wild flowers to flourish. Some of your customers would love that.

And in my situation, I have stressed many times that a bit of fertiliser at this time of year allows my stock the pleasure of grazing fresh, nutrition and delicious grass a month earlier. And it reduces the need for conserved grass during that month. I am sure that would equally impress your customers.

 

[Buggerallbandwidth]

Cut and remove the tops to ground zero. Apply Grazon Pro via knapsack or paint brush to the cut stumps. If they sprout in the spring just treat the regrowth carefully with a dose of the same chemical again. This way is targeted and effective. You don't need to treat the whole field. I have had success with this method. Mowing just lets it continue to creep out into the field, then brambles grow through.
Otherwise you just have to keep flailing them twice a year. For ever.

 

[Kidds]

A simple pass with the topper has controlled mine for decades. Sure they do come back but never had a problem with that.