weedlickers

valtra2

hi can anyone tell me how good weedlickers ar at getting rid of docks and thistles and nettles in a paddock and is it worth buying one

pburns

Can't say for gospel but my father and uncle bought one between them over 20 years ago and were slagged mercilessly ever after for the worst purchase EVER! I seemto remember it being of limited use...

reilig

valtra2 wrote: »

hi can anyone tell me how good weedlickers ar at getting rid of docks and thistles and nettles in a paddock and is it worth buying one

Its a waste of time for docks. If you set it low enough to touch the docks, it will also touch the grass and kill all before it. Its not super fantastic on thistles either - it will only kill the tall ones - you won't get near the ones that mushroom out on the ground. A sprayer would be a better and possibly cheaper option for you.

Ashill5

Relig is spot on!
Weedlickers are not good for much else other than Rushes. A Sprayer would suit you best. Rather than buying one there should be a contractor who do the job.:rolleyes:

farmer fred

I have problems in paddocks with docks, dandelion and buttercup. Have sprayed with limited success. I am now considering a weedlicker as it would appear to be better targeted and less wasteful of chemicals, etc

The opinions here are very negative. I would not have enough land (9 acres) to justify buying one but thought of simply hiring one for the day. Would welcome any advice.

bbam

Won't work.
They won't stand up enough above the grass for the licker to work on them. Weed licker is for rushes only.

Even where it touches the tips of the docks they just curl at the edges and don't die.

reilig

bbam wrote: »

Won't work.
They won't stand up enough above the grass for the licker to work on them. Weed licker is for rushes only.

Even where it touches the tips of the docks they just curl at the edges and don't die.

+1, fine for rushes or high thistles, but you won't hit the dock with them.

bbam

Have you had success with thistles?
Do you use the same dilution as with rushes?
How about ragworts?

reilig

bbam wrote: »

Have you had success with thistles?
Do you use the same dilution as with rushes?
How about ragworts?

Any thistles that the roller touches will be killed - make sure you're using glyphosate as opposed to rush spray. We don't suffer from ragworth, but I know someone who has had great success with ragworth.

bbam

Good news.
We've been experimenting with different dilutions of Gallup.
Used a 20:1 ratio on rushes earlier in the year and it just nuked them. Last weekend we did another corner but at 30:1to see how it goes.
Would this be strong enough for the thistles and ragworth, have only one two acre field with much but it would be handy to kill them both in one pass.

reilig

bbam wrote: »

Good news.
We've been experimenting with different dilutions of Gallup.
Used a 20:1 ratio on rushes earlier in the year and it just nuked them. Last weekend we did another corner but at 30:1to see how it goes.
Would this be strong enough for the thistles and ragworth, have only one two acre field with much but it would be handy to kill them both in one pass.

It would be lots strong enough to get the thistles. I'm using gallup at between 60 and 100 to 1 and it has achieved a great kill on the rushes this year. They were done in late march, and because of the slow growth since then, they were slow to die, but at this stage, they are gone white. They break up into dust when I run over them with the chain harrow. I've been licking rushes for a good few years now and have never seen such an effective kill and break up of the rush as with the gallup this year.

I usually don't have any thistles until July - then they try to take over and I wage a war on them. Some grew over 5ft last year and it was hard to get over them with the licker. :mad:

farmer fred

The best solution to the ragworth I have found was to allow 4 sheep to 1 acre approx. The following year ragworth was zero. Knapsack sprayer with Bandox to spot hit docks (glyphosphate) very effective but tough going, Grazon on the briars (Glyphosphate) around the headlands has worked well. I only have a few acres so buying a sprayer or weedlicker is not really an option although I do have a MF135.

Idea graze paddocks tight with horses, they leave the weeds higher than the grass and maybe run the weedlicker over all? Any suggestions would be welcome as I would like clean fields and horses are very selective and wasteful grazers.

marknjb

same as u got a great result with gallup and the weed licker this year
i just hire the licker out for the day .friend of mine bought a four wheel drive quad i got a loan of that aswell it is way better and quicker than a tractor went into places u would never go with a tractor

bbam

reilig wrote: »

It would be lots strong enough to get the thistles. I'm using gallup at between 60 and 100 to 1 and it has achieved a great kill on the rushes this year. They were done in late march, and because of the slow growth since then, they were slow to die, but at this stage, they are gone white. They break up into dust when I run over them with the chain harrow. I've been licking rushes for a good few years now and have never seen such an effective kill and break up of the rush as with the gallup this year.

I usually don't have any thistles until July - then they try to take over and I wage a war on them. Some grew over 5ft last year and it was hard to get over them with the licker. :mad:

Their serious thistles there, I suppose we each have our own penance !!
Do you find it good to harrow them once killed. We're getting a harrow this week, 6ft drag. So it's another new toy to play with . Have a good bit licked and were planning to harrow them once grazed tight, which will be easy given the growth.