Weeds in grassland, what to do?

[DrDunc]

I've a field that's contains a fair few broadleaf weeds. Clover is looking well, pH and nutrients are fine, and only other issue is lack of actual grass in places. It's intended to be cut for haylage at the beginning of July

Should I spray off the broadleaves now with MCPA / 2.4D and check the clover?

Is it time to consider a full reseed?

Opinions please, I'm not wanting to just throw away fertiliser and hope!

 

[Cowabunga]

Will get a top up of fertilizer next week as I thought it a bit cold when Igave it the 1.25 bag of 201010. It I will be topped up with 24.6.12 about 1.5bags acres

Don’t go mad with the fertiliser LOL.

Seriously though, consider killing the chickweed and every other weed in there before they kill the re-seed. The fluroxypyr/dicamba mix will kill most weeds. The chickweed in particular will smother the grass in patches, leaving lots of gaps without grass that will likely be populated with more weeds or another chickweed plant when the current one eventually dies. They are an annual weed that grows and seeds all year round but individual plants only last a year. The only good [chick]weed is a dead [chick]weed. The aim should be a dense nutritious and palatable weed-free sward as much as possible. It’s all down to management at the end of the day and timeliness is a major part of that.

 

[wdah/him]

What was the pH , to be honest your wasting your time reseedin if the PH is low

last soil tests have been 5.8 with 2 at 5.9, taken over the last 4 years. Aim to reseed last year was under sowed corn, but weather bear me when one field was sowed with corn and the rain started after I was round the second field with corn the next evening, The rain came 6 hours early, should have had the time to do all right but weather beat it. 1st field grew oh corn but was a mess and reploughed after cutting, has came good but was a late august reseed. 2nd field was total lose and reseeded with 3 runs of a power harrow in early july, but ended up only 10kg acre of seed hence an over sow after first cut.

Will get what was recommended by cowabunga to leave the space for new grass to catch and thicken the sward, then top up the fert, silagee will be in short supply but still have to give the reseed the best chance

 

[neilo]

I’d spray it too, if the whole field is like your photos. You have chickweed, docks and buttercups, all of which will just get stronger.

Any spray that controls those will kill any clover, and need a while afterwards before you can safely introduce clover.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hope this is the right thread. These weeds are in an August reseed from last year. Few docks but not enough the worry about what are they and how best to treat. It will be over seeded after first cut mid May early June. Has been grazed by sheep late last year and late this year. Needs some lime but will be August before that happens I would think as it is heavy ground. Will get a top up of fertilizer next week as I thought it a bit cold when IView attachment 1034617View attachment 1034616View attachment 1034617 gave it the 1.25 bag of 201010. It I will be topped up with 24.6.12 about 1.5bags acres

Is that just a few patches or a lot
I'm thinking you be better taking a cut , chickweed will desapear soon , overseed it after Yiu have cut
Problem is with spraying now you will kill all the Clover Yiu have and the it will prevent you seeding Clover after You have cut
How does the old saying go, look at your fields in may .... Look at your fields in June and sing a different tune

 

[tinsheet]

They are very seasonal. Dandelions that is. They flower and seed very early in the Spring and then more or less disappear until next year.
Weeds generally have little if any feed value and eat your £900/ton fertiliser without a care in the world. They eat the money out of your bank account.

Organic here, no fertilizer only a bit of fym.

 

[wdah/him]

Is that just a few patches or a lot
I'm thinking you be better taking a cut , chickweed will desapear soon , overseed it after Yiu have cut
Problem is with spraying now you will kill all the Clover Yiu have and the it will prevent you seeding Clover after You have cut
How does the old saying go, look at your fields in may .... Look at your fields in June and sing a different tune

No clover sowed yet. Was to be over sowed this year after the first cut. So dealing with weeds first.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

No clover sowed yet. Was to be over sowed this year after the first cut. So dealing with weeds first.

If your use Hurler Yiu can't sow Clover for 12 month after
I overseeded 20 acres with Clover this spring , 10 has come well 10 not come , then I realised what was wrong , 10 had Hurler in June last year

 

[Vader]

I’ve been considering a similar mix for patches of nettles that are creeping back in. Would Thrust and Hurler (and maybe an adjuvant oil) be effective?

PastureMaster - Tried and tested thistle control in grassland

Need to control thistle in your grassland or arable cropping? PastureMaster offers excellent control of both creeping thistle and spear thistle, along with stinging nettle, dandelion, buttercup.

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[neilo]

PastureMaster - Tried and tested thistle control in grassland

Need to control thistle in your grassland or arable cropping? PastureMaster offers excellent control of both creeping thistle and spear thistle, along with stinging nettle, dandelion, buttercup.

nufarm.com

Pasturemaster will only take off top growth of nettles and docks ime, which grow back again in time. More’s the pity.

 

[Vader]

Pasturemaster will only take off top growth of nettles and docks ime, which grow back again in time. More’s the pity.

Took on some grass last year full of all sorts of weeds. Looks well this year after 1 dose last year. Was nettles in it, not seen any thus yeae.

 

[agitechi]

I've a field that's contains a fair few broadleaf weeds. Clover is looking well, pH and nutrients are fine, and only other issue is lack of actual grass in places. It's intended to be cut for haylage at the beginning of July

Should I spray off the broadleaves now with MCPA / 2.4D and check the clover?

Is it time to consider a full reseed?

Opinions please, I'm not wanting to just throw away fertiliser and hope!

Hi DrDunc

Looking at your post, perhaps I could plug our new Automated Grassland-Weed Spot Spray Service?
It's flat out on docks in dairy pastures at the moment. Importantly, it recognises and avoids the clover. It's getting more development to be as precise on other weeds (chickweed, dandelions, thistles etc) as it is on Docks

Your pictures looked ideal for spot-spraying, but I realise that that was a few weeks ago
Feel free to get in touch. We're reasonably local to you DrDunc.

www.Taylor-Technologies.com