Author Topic: Advice please (Read 2406 times)

The Woodsiders · « **on:** February 17, 2014, 11:02:05 am »

Not sure if this is the right forum to post this,We have recently moved to our own small,smallholding, 1.6 acres, the field has been sorely neglected, its very wet (as I`m sure every ones is at the moment) it has a lot of what I now believe to be is Mares Tail and reeds growing, we are wanting to bring our pigs and sheep on there, (not together). My question is, will the Mares Tail and reeds be harmful to them if they graze or can we let the livestock demolish it for us.
Your advice would be gratefully received.
Mark

Rosemary · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2014, 12:11:48 pm »

We've found that Mare's Tail doesn't survive chooks - we live beside a railway back that's full of it but it doesn't encroach n the poultry pens. I don't see it in the paddocks either, so I assume the animals graze it.

The sheep nibble the rushes; the cattle and best, the ponies, eat rushes right down to the ground.Not eliminated, but reduced.

spandit · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2014, 12:22:16 pm »

I thought most of Horley was underwater at the moment?

I don't know how many sheep you can graze on 1.5 acres but putting pigs in then resowing with grass seed might be a way to go

Rosemary · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2014, 01:21:17 pm »

I appreciate thet it's a wet year but if it's wet ground, you'll get rushes. We've drained but i's not enough to get rid. We have sprayed but it made an awful mess. We're hoping to control by cutting / grazing but I doubt we'll ever eliminate them.

The Woodsiders · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2014, 08:58:57 pm »

Thanks for your replies, going to get someone in to take a look, the last thing I want to do is make the animals sick, thanks again.

doganjo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2014, 10:35:37 pm »

I'm beside a railway too and my chooks have eliminated the mares tail completely!

cloddopper · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2014, 10:55:38 pm »

To me...
Having the chooks in and getting rid of it gives the clue that cutting it every few days throughout a couple of years will see it unable to have enough greenery photosynthesise , reproduce or have enough vital strength to grow .

I think I may just try hitting our horsetail with the strimmer every three or four days for two years in scarifying mode and see if it works .