Weed wiper tips!

[NathaN113]

Hi there,
I’m getting a weed wiper on loan this summer to try and tidy up some rushes, bracken and other general nuisances I have growing where I graze sheep. Never used one before so wondering what folk are putting through them and at what dilution rate and any other tips or tricks. got roundup 360g already would that be strong enough? Are people adding anything along with it such as fairy when doing rushes? It’s a logic brush type wiper if that makes any difference!

 

[neilo]

Hi there,
I’m getting a weed wiper on loan this summer to try and tidy up some rushes, bracken and other general nuisances I have growing where I graze sheep. Never used one before so wondering what folk are putting through them and at what dilution rate and any other tips or tricks. got roundup 360g already would that be strong enough? Are people adding anything along with it such as fairy when doing rushes? It’s a logic brush type wiper if that makes any difference!

If you haven't got one already, I think you can download the manual from the Logic website. Iirc it has the recc dilution rate for glyphosate in there.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

It’s 1 to 20 for most things

 

[cubby]

3 litres roundup here in 60 litres running at 99 on a logic has great effects on dense bracken

 

[NathaN113]

Thank you for all the advice, ended up speaking to logic at their stand at the royal highland and they gave me the booklet for the weedwiper with everything I needed to know which was good of them.

 

[Macsky]

3 litres roundup here in 60 litres running at 99 on a logic has great effects on dense bracken

In my experience 99 was a massive waste of chemical, and burnt off everything underneath the bracken too. I’ve gone into bracken as thick as it comes with the controller set at 70-75, absolute max 80, and it’s done a great job.

Rushes obviously depends on how sparse they are, but I get on well in the 50-70 range. It’s very much suck it and see, keep an eye on the brush as you go, you want it to be wet enough to start dripping within 5 seconds of stopping, but not immediately.

In terms of getting round the field, I find the best way is to do a pass and turn around and go back the same way as it’s easier to see/figure out what you’ve just covered, can lose yourself going round in circles more easily. Not such an issue in bracken as you fairly flatten it as you go.

 

[NathaN113]

In my experience 99 was a massive waste of chemical, and burnt off everything underneath the bracken too. I’ve gone into bracken as thick as it comes with the controller set at 70-75, absolute max 80, and it’s done a great job.

Rushes obviously depends on how sparse they are, but I get on well in the 50-70 range. It’s very much suck it and see, keep an eye on the brush as you go, you want it to be wet enough to start dripping within 5 seconds of stopping, but not immediately.

In terms of getting round the field, I find the best way is to do a pass and turn around and go back the same way as it’s easier to see/figure out what you’ve just covered, can lose yourself going round in circles more easily. Not such an issue in bracken as you fairly flatten it as you go

Yeah so far it’s been a bit of trial and error. I think I’ll knock the application rate back for rushes and go up and down in rows where I can from now on like you said as I can see now where I’ve gone over bits I’ve already done by mistake and picked up the chemical on the tyres of the bike and left strips of dead grass How often are you having to go back and wipe bits again?
Most of the Crofts I have or have use of weren’t grazed for years up until I got started so the bracken and rushes have really taken over. Slowly getting them back though.

 

[Macsky]

Yeah so far it’s been a bit of trial and error. I think I’ll knock the application rate back for rushes and go up and down in rows where I can from now on like you said as I can see now where I’ve gone over bits I’ve already done by mistake and picked up the chemical on the tyres of the bike and left strips of dead grass How often are you having to go back and wipe bits again?
Most of the Crofts I have or have use of weren’t grazed for years up until I got started so the bracken and rushes have really taken over. Slowly getting them back though.

I’ve found june wiped rushes to take the hit the hardest, and later July or even into august for bracken, definitely after full frond extension but before it starts to die back.

Ive found with rushes if you hit them well in june, you get a better kill if you then top them in august after they’re well dead looking. Getting some lime on would also help the grass compete better in the longer term.

 

[NathaN113]

I’ve found june wiped rushes to take the hit the hardest, and later July or even into august for bracken, definitely after full frond extension but before it starts to die back.

Ive found with rushes if you hit them well in june, you get a better kill if you then top them in august after they’re well dead looking. Getting some lime on would also help the grass compete better in the longer term.

Ah right I see, I’ll top the bits with thicker rushes next month then if I get time. Would love to spread lime but don’t have a tractor and wouldn’t get one into most of the bits I have. What isn’t too steep is a bog or the access is rubbish the usual! Wonder is granulated lime any good, seems very expensive for what it is but could put that out the bike and towable spreader.

 

[Macsky]

Ah right I see, I’ll top the bits with thicker rushes next month then if I get time. Would love to spread lime but don’t have a tractor and wouldn’t get one into most of the bits I have. What isn’t too steep is a bog or the access is rubbish the usual! Wonder is granulated lime any good, seems very expensive for what it is but could put that out the bike and towable spreader.

It’s very expensive, but you could maybe get grant money for it.

 

[deere 6600]

Granular lime is a good product which definitely helps fertility we farm next to village and there isn’t the same dust from it to cloud over houses plus we put on when we want to tractor and fert spreader lighter than lime spreader