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Post by racaille on May 3, 2015 9:25:21 GMT
Last year my lower paddocks were mown for hay so it wasn't a problem, but this year they are grazed and there are a fair few buttercups in them. The boys don't touch them as they are fat pigs on all the other stuff they get. But I'd like to eradicate the buttercups anyway. I've tried digging them out but it is backbreaking and leaves holes. I've tried pulling them up but i don't think I am getting all the roots. I don't want to use weedkiller as it is close to the bore hole which supplies all the water for the house.
Any ideas? How do you deal with them?
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on May 3, 2015 12:48:13 GMT
I get loads too, especially in the little paddock as it's overgrazed but i can't risk anything else with my fatties. In the past they have been sprayed but it did bugger all so the last few years nothing has been done. If they get sprayed A usually fences the paddock off and lets me know not to turn out for a while in there but i get your concerns over water.
So basically thats a long way of saying i do bugger all, they'd have to eat tons for it to be a worry so i don't. x
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Post by brigadier on May 3, 2015 18:05:47 GMT
Buttercups seem to thrive where the ground is disturbed or stressed. And they seem to have a rotational life cycle also- ie one year not so bad, next year horrendous etc etc. Ive used grazon on mine, last year it didn't touch them despite being the chemical of choice so this year I did them earlier and it does seem to have an impact. As they are 'creeping' it seems kind of futile to suggest topping but this seems to make the grass thrive so maybe that's the key- love the grass so that it dominates the buttercup. If you find anything effective in your research Rac keep me in the loop as although they have to be eaten in quantity they do take up a lot of grazing space so would rather be without them.
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Post by racaille on May 4, 2015 22:09:41 GMT
Well my small amount of research suggests that they are the bane of all paddock keepers! I must say I was surprised to see them as it is the first year my fields have been grazed in about 30 years. Grazon apparently is best best applied at the rosette stage but even then seems only to knock them back not necessarily destroy them.
I am doing a control test pretty much as you describe Brig: I am pulling them up (pretty backbreaking). Even though I rarely get all the roots or runners I am hoping that I will weaken them and give the grass a chance. Also harrowing helps as it breaks the runners.
Still a work in progress though.
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Post by pboy on May 7, 2015 19:01:10 GMT
There are a lot of buttercups in the fields at Indio's yard too - they've suddenly sprung up as they weren't there two weeks ago! It looks like the horses don't eat them though as none of them were broken, do yours eat them Rac?
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Post by racaille on May 7, 2015 19:17:44 GMT
No Pboy, they don't as they taste nasty - it seems a horse has to be pretty hungry to eat them when fresh. But if I leave them they will take over, they are resilient little beggars  |
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