Ragwort, thistles and other nasties
Posted: Sunday 12 August, 2007
I've spent a happy hour in the garden / field digging up ragwort. I took the opportunity to also dig up the thistles that are flowering - I hope that this will help stop the spread. I don't have time to pull them all today, but I'll make a point of checking regularly and disposing of those coming into flower. I'm just going back out to pull the ragwort from the horses' field.
We don't have much - I pulled a lot last year, so I think that has helped. With the sheep coming, we will have to manage our limited grazing as best we can, so removing thistles and other weeds will be a start.
However, ragwort control doesn't seem to be on evertyone's mind. We've just come back from Alnwick, in north Northumberland. Now, I'm not saying that it's worse there than anywhere else - far from it, but the amount of ragwort was just staggering. In some areas, it looked like it was being grown as a crop. Even land that was clearly horse grazing was thick with it. Apart from anything else, like animal welfare or moral duty, it is illegal to have ragwort on your land.
Horse owners, in particular, seem to practice the very slackest of grass management. Some horse pasture is nothing short of dangerous, with unsuitable fencing, discarded rubbish and weed infestation. I do know from my University days that managing grassland is not easy - even farmers find it challenging to make best use of grass. Claire took me to see the horse she helps with. He's in a small livery yard near Falkirk. The grazing was just a disgrace - overgrazed, wet, full of docks (and I mean full). From a purely aesthetic point of view, I would hate to live near it.
Now, I'm not saying that Smokey's field is an example. I've not picked poo for weeks, but I'll try and get started again this week. There's also a healthy crop of thistles - although the horses do like the flowers, and munch them. The corners of the field are worst, where the horses don't have access. Those bits need a good strim and probably sprayed.
Anyway, rant over. Now I'm off to finish ragwort pulling.
Comments
Not A Proper Farmer
I agree and sympathise with you!
I am going through the same ragwort / dock /thistle management process at the moment...and I now am find myself getting irrationally cross when I see a field full of any of these usual perennial weed culprits. A few thistles isn't the end of the world - but docks will completely take over if not managed and there is not much excuse not to pull ragwort as it is so easy to spot when it comes into flower.
Good luck with the ragwort control!
Wanda
Sorry to hear you have problems with Ragwort! We do not have it here in Central Oregon. Although our Willammette Valley has HUGE problems! All, because MANY people will not do ONE thing to help control it!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
I wish they would pass a law here to get rid of it and any other unwanted weeds!!! Maybe one day!
Just asking???? Are you guy's ever coming to the states???
Have a great day!!
Rosemary
If everyone did a little bit, there wouldn't be a problem. But that woudl be so true of many things, wouldn't it. Hey ho, keep pulling the ragwort and feeling virtuous!
Joanna
The field next to us is FULL of ragwort, owned, as is common here so close to London, by a Marie Antoinette "farmer" who thinks its an extension of his garden. I expect he thinks the flowers are pretty. If it's illegal to have ragwort on your land, what can be done about it? Is there some sort of reporting system?
Teresa
Don't know what ragwort is, but since it has a flower can you use corn gluten to stop it? It's a pre-emergent.
From www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=17
Corn gluten meal is a natural weed and feed fertilizer. It should be broadcast in the spring around February 15-March 15 to prevent grassburs, crabgrass, and other annual weeds that germinate from seed. For the cool season or winter weeds, broadcast sometime between September 15 and October 15. [for Texas]
I use it to help stop the grassburs. There's a whole lot more info on the dirtdoctor website.
snapdragonjane
When we moved here I was so, so careful to weed out ragwort as soon as I saw it as our neighbours have 3 horses. After a year or so I noticed that she doesn't bother and it has taken over. I still weed it out, but it takes its turn with the thistles & docks
J
claire
J. she will bother when one of her horses is dying of poisoning and the half digested ragwort is pouring out of its nostrils mixed with blood and pus. point that out to her.
update on Robbies field, I have been told it has had some improvements as last year it did have ragwort which was sprayed and removed, there is none now although it has a real dock problem. the owners re-seeded and it got washed away by the rain and now they don't know what to do.
Wanda
I worked for a vet for many years, and I am with you Claire!! I wish they still put out the video I seen while in college. It showed horses that had Ragwort poisoning; from early to right at deaths door! I am sure it would change many peoples minds; as it did here in the states. I can remember back in the mid 1970's, many of the flower shops were paying pretty good money for the ragwort, to put in their fresh flower arrangements. I was ANGRY and worked with a panel of ranchers to get it stopped! We did just that. Unfournately, it did not last long! Our valleys and hay from our valleys are FULL of it. Sorry to rant, but it still makes me ANGRY!! Good luck to all of you in Scotland for standing up and taking a stand!!!
Rosemary
This post really seems to have hit a nerve. There's some good information on the DeFRA site. Ragwort is one of five weeds covered by The Weeds Act 1959. Landowners are obliged to control these weeds - the other four are two types of thistle and two types of dock.
If a landowner is failing to control these weeds, you should raise it with them. If they refuse to do anything, you can report them to DeFRA - the Secretary of State has powers to enforce the legislation.
lesley
For the last three years i have hand pulled ragwort in my six acres of fields that i rent. and this year it seems to be more abundant than ever.
I have managed to secure short term grazing to move mine off whilst i spray it.
Can anyone suggest what it the best and most reasonable spray to use, can it be used on other weeds as well? how long you have to keep the horses off and where to get from at the moment barrier H is the front runner - but i am going to need at least four /five lots of it which will put it at about one hundred and twenty pounds.
in one of my fields i have regulaly cleared it and then will go back the next day and see more!
The man hours that i have spent on ths during the year is ridiculous
Comments are now closed for this post.
claire
Monday 13 August, 2007 at 9:08am
and they are wondering why the 20yr old arab who is now out full time has lost weight. . . .