Hi Folks
Our GOS successfully cleared a patch of our new garden. They grazed down the brambles and nettles (after we had got rid of the huge elder and conifers) but left all the ground viola/sweet violet which they did not like apparently
. However we then moved them and that cleared ground has now become a jungle again, except under the apple and plum trees.
I thought the new weeds were mostly fat hen and resurgent nettles, but I can see quite a bit of deadly nightshade - including plants with berries. I was hoping to put sows back in to clean up again ( including eating all the fallen apples) but am now concerned about potentially toxic berries.
Given that there is so much other ( tasty) stuff around, are they likely to leave DN alone, or should I really not put them back there, (I am assuming it is toxic to humans and pigs).
I am hoping that they are both in pig, and I do not know if eating a little bit of DN would cause pregnancy problems either. I need to shift them to new ground so need to make a decision soon. It might be possible for me to dig up DN by hand, but there is the possiblility that I would miss some, or that the berries had already dropped.
I suspect that the answer is 'do not put them in' but I am also looking for advice as to whether I should never put them back in this area as the DN seeds are obviously dormant in soil.
My other alternative new ground has ragwort.....and is only half fenced!
All advice greatfully received
thanks