Volunteer OSR in a herbal ley

[redsloe]

Putting some MOP on a couple herbal leys this afternoon and there's quite a few volunteers mainly behind the combine.
It's two years ago that it was in OSR.
What to do about it?
Top them as they are coming up to flower?
Would rolling put them quiet?
I want to mow the fields for silage

ideally.

 

[Brisel]

If you want to cut it for silage, roll it. The osr stems will snap or be damaged enough to kill them.

 

[e3120]

Still get a smattering of OSR in new silage leys 20 years since it was last grown. In the grazing too, but soon demolished. Other than making the mower a funny colour, I've never seen a problem in leaving it be. 1st cut is the end of it.

That's thicker, but it's all forage!

 

[redsloe]

Still get a smattering of OSR in new silage leys 20 years since it was last grown. In the grazing too, but soon demolished. Other than making the mower a funny colour, I've never seen a problem in leaving it be. 1st cut is the end of it.

That's thicker, but it's all forage!

I'm just worried that where its thick and when it branches out it will smother the grass and clover etc. I'm not planning on cutting it until late May.

 

[e3120]

I'm just worried that where its thick and when it branches out it will smother the grass and clover etc. I'm not planning on cutting it until late May.

I understand your concern. I like to get a few sheep/frosts to batter the rape/charlock, but the land is sometimes too tender.

That will be a fair wodge of crop in 2 months. Be a shame to set to it with a roller, by the time it's dry enough.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Roll it or graze it off with sheep so the grass etc gets ahead?

You could spray it but it will whack all your herbs also.

 

[redsloe]

Roll it or graze it off with sheep so the grass etc gets ahead?

You could spray it but it will whack all your herbs also.

Can't spray your right.
Not many sheep around now, lambing or sold although I do have100 on another field munching volunteer oats

 

[redsloe]

So I rolled one field 2 and a half weeks ago on the last dry day!

And today it's dry again so I decided to top one field.

It plenty late really for the grass, just topping the tips with the topper right up.
I suppose my only concern would be the wheelings remaining until cutting in 5 or 6

weeks time or so.