Smallholders Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: Buttercup eradication?  (Read 3730 times)

pigalicious

  • Joined Feb 2014
  • Caithness
Buttercup eradication?
« on: May 03, 2018, 09:01:47 pm »
What is the best weedkiller to use on grassland to kill off our buttercups?
We are about to apply a nitrogen rich fertiliser to our pasture so this might help reduce their 'flourish', but what does everyone else do?

farmers wife

  • Joined Jul 2009
  • SE Wales
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2018, 11:06:37 pm »
why?  We have a lot of buttercups on the farm its not an issue.  Also spraying isn't great for the soils plus costs to worry about something that's not necessary.

Derbyshire Hillbilly

  • Joined Apr 2016
  • Derbyshire
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2018, 08:24:34 am »
If your soils acidic then applying ground lime would kill them

Penninehillbilly

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • West Yorks
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2018, 01:13:54 pm »
why?  We have a lot of buttercups on the farm its not an issue.  Also spraying isn't great for the soils plus costs to worry about something that's not necessary.
I'm looking at trying to reduce ours because they spread out, kill grass off, bad for animals. Even the goats have sense not to eat them.
I wouldn't mind small areas, but when you are looking at many square yards it needs dealing with.
So I'm with pigalicious.
Your nitro rich fertilizer may help grass swamp out the buttercups, or feed the buttercups? ?
There are weedkiller for broadleaved weeds, but I still try to spot spray, whether the dreaded glyphosate or selective.

cambee

  • Joined Feb 2017
  • High Peak
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2018, 06:42:06 pm »
6 years ago we completely eradicated the buttercups that had taken over a 3 acre field (needed the grass back for grazing horses who don’t eat buttercups) with a spray called Mircam. One application was all that was needed and the grass came back with a vengeance. Not sure if it’s still on the market but your local ag merchant should know. You’d need someone with a licence to spray it though.

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2018, 03:03:50 pm »
Harrow them, a lot.  The fert will make the grass out-compete them so don't bother with even more chems. :)

pigalicious

  • Joined Feb 2014
  • Caithness
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2018, 11:08:54 am »
Harrow them, a lot.  The fert will make the grass out-compete them so don't bother with even more chems. :)
We've been harrowing like mad, and applied high nitro fertiliser to the paddocks in Question, so hopefully this will reduce them to a manageable level. Don't want to apply and more chemicals than absolutely necessary if we can get away with it. Thanks everyone. ????

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2018, 11:32:35 am »
Don't forget to let us know how you get on, so we can all learn from your experience : please  ;)
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

pigalicious

  • Joined Feb 2014
  • Caithness
Re: Buttercup eradication?
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2018, 12:11:25 pm »
Don't forget to let us know how you get on, so we can all learn from your experience : please  ;)
  a couple of weeks after applying fertiliser now, and the grass seems to be coming on a bit stronger than the b-cups, so with a bit of luck may drown them out a bit. Only time will tell! ????

 

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