Weed Removal from pasture

[Laura_Long]

Hi All. I have a 2.5acre field which is laid to rye grass and was cut for haylage last year in June and then grazed by sheep for a few months until Nov. There are lots of bare patches between the grass which thistle, butterfly and other weeds are taking hold of.

I don't want to use any chemicals so what are my options to get rid of the weeds. Is ploughing then rolling and reseeding the best/only option (will that even work?) Or is there a less drastic option? I want to rent it out for horse or sheep pasture at some point.

Any advice would be welcome.

 

[Bob c]

ploughing will just disturb all the dormant seeds

got a picture how bad it is

 

[Laura_Long]

Hi Bob. The weeds and open patches are spread throughout the field and there are a lot of them! I think it's from when the farmer who had it before us re seeded it, it was patchy.

 

[Great In Grass]

Soil test & check for compaction (correct any deficiencies). Overseed with grass seed, control weeds 4-6 weeks later.

 

[czechmate]

Hi All. I have a 2.5acre field which is laid to rye grass and was cut for haylage last year in June and then grazed by sheep for a few months until Nov. There are lots of bare patches between the grass which thistle, butterfly and other weeds are taking hold of.

I don't want to use any chemicals so what are my options to get rid of the weeds. Is ploughing then rolling and reseeding the best/only option (will that even work?) Or is there a less drastic option? I want to rent it out for horse or sheep pasture at some point.

Any advice would be welcome.

What's the issue with a selective herbicide?

 

[mushnt grummmble]

What's the issue with a selective herbicide?

It will be by far the cheapest way as long as its not orgasmic

 

[CornishRanger]

As bob said could do with a picture to really understand what your dealing with, but it'd have to be pretty bad for ploughing to the only option. I should consider what you I intend to do with the pasture, it possible you will need to introduce some more seeds and what mix you choose will depend on intended use, I. E. sheep or horses. Maybe @Great In Grass could help?

Edit: he beat me too it

 

[czechmate]

It will be by far the cheapest way as long as its not orgasmic

Mcpa and 2,4d are my best friends here

 

[Al R]

Buy a ragfork. It’ll take time but it isn’t to bad to do 400acre, let alone 2.5acre

 

[neilo]

Hi All. I have a 2.5acre field which is laid to rye grass and was cut for haylage last year in June and then grazed by sheep for a few months until Nov. There are lots of bare patches between the grass which thistle, butterfly and other weeds are taking hold of.

I don't want to use any chemicals so what are my options to get rid of the weeds. Is ploughing then rolling and reseeding the best/only option (will that even work?) Or is there a less drastic option? I want to rent it out for horse or sheep pasture at some point.

Any advice would be welcome.

Your averse to using “any chemicals”, but you’re OK with wiping out half the earthworm population and releasing carbon to the atmosphere by ploughing?

 

[Downtrodden Dad]

If you're looking to put horses on it a few weeds now will be nothing by this time next year [emoji48]

 

[Danllan]

Mcpa and 2,4d are my best friends here

That cocktail can even hit bl**dy rushes .

 

[Derrick Hughes]

if you mannage the new lay afer planting you should not need chemical input . but you need friendly weather .main thing is to graze early afer establishment so you knock out the weeds anf forces the new grass to tiller

 

[neilo]

if you mannage the new lay afer planting you should not need chemical input . but you need friendly weather .main thing is to graze early afer establishment so you knock out the weeds anf forces the new grass to tiller

Agreed, but the weeds are apparently already there and stocking will be with horses.....

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Agreed, but the weeds are apparently already there and stocking will be with horses.....

will have to reseed .
is it a possible to borrow some sheep ?
and top before weeds go to seed

 

[Al R]

Agreed, but the weeds are apparently already there and stocking will be with horses.....

If it’s to be stocked with horses, no further comments will be given from me. Ragfork, use it, use it well, weld it up when it breaks and keep using it, and don’t pull the horses out when there’s to much ragweed in there, then top it and expect sheep to be put into ragweed toppings.

 

[Agrivator]

Ragwort can be controlled by pulling.
Creeping thistle can only be controlled by MCPA +.24D or similar by overall spraying or by spot spraying.
Burr or Scotch thistle can be controlled by the same method, or, if you have time to cover the whole field. by peeing on them.

 

[Yale]

Concentrated salt solution.

Ask the expert @Kiwi Pete

 

[Laura_Long]

Hi all,
Thanks for your replies.
I really don't want to use chemicals.

Your averse to using “any chemicals”, but you’re OK with wiping out half the earthworm population and releasing carbon to the atmosphere by ploughing?

Hi Neilo, Yes I am averse to using "any chemicals" I am not a farmer, I asked a question on here to try and get some advice as I am new to this. I am not saying I want to plough it I was asking if that was what was needed. I am trying to manage the field in as organic a way as possible therefore I don't want to start spraying herbicide. That is my choice and I will be sticking to it hence why I asked for a solution other than spraying chemicals. I will hand pull I think and overseed, my friend's sheep can live on there for a while to help the seed as this is the advice I have had off of a few other people.

 

[Laura_Long]

Hi All,

Thanks for your help.

I don't have ragwort just thistle and buttercup. I am going to try and hand dig them and then harrow and overseed next moth and put some sheep on it for a while. I will also get some soil samples taken and see if we need to add some lime to reduce the buttercup. I guess it will just take a bit of management.