Recommend a weedkiller

Amtmann

I have a section of land near me that was planted with ash, oak and horse chestnut about two years ago. Grass seeds were sown on the soil around them, but since then the site has become choked with nettles, thistles, ragwort and dock, all of which are totally out of control.

Can someone recommend a cheap weedkiller that will burn off these weeds? I want to leave the ground around the base of each tree free from weeds and grass, and in general I want to get rid of all the weeds mentioned.

nilhg

If you want to kill everything, then Roundup or one of its generic versions will do the job, to kill those weeds you'll need 4-5lt/HA and be careful not too get it on the trees even their bark.

blue5000

Nilhig is right, you have to use a cowl on the lance to keep roundup off the trees' bark, esp the ash. You could make a cowl yourself from a piece of curved plastic container. Watch out for drips as well.

MfMan

Have you tried nettlox? Works fine on nettles, not sure about other weeds.

Amtmann

Thanks, it's only about one-tenth of an acre. So the poison works by contact with the leaves of the weeds, not via the weed's root system?

Fellani

Furet wrote: »

I have a section of land near me that was planted with ash, oak and horse chestnut about two years ago. Grass seeds were sown on the soil around them, but since then the site has become choked with nettles, thistles, ragwort and dock, all of which are totally out of control.

Can someone recommend a cheap weedkiller that will burn off these weeds? I want to leave the ground around the base of each tree free from weeds and grass, and in general I want to get rid of all the weeds mentioned.

Roundup ProBiactive (white bottle) is the best product on the market in Ireland.

nilhg

Furet wrote: »

Thanks, it's only about one-tenth of an acre. So the poison works by contact with the leaves of the weeds, not via the weed's root system?

Roundup is a systemic product, it enters the plant through the leaves/stem or bark and is transported throughout the plant and its roots by the vascular system as long as it's actively growing, so all the plant will die as long as enough chemical is absorbed.

John_F

if ya want to keep the grass use bandock or scrub killer - both have same ingredients

Amtmann

Only just finding the time for this now. Ok, so let me describe my trees. They are all about 11ft high, slender, with foliage high up on the plant. I went into the area with a strimmer yesterday and whacked away many of the weeds between the trees, but keeping away from their trunks lest I damage them.

Now, can I use the roundup in spot treatments around each trunk, and does it matter if some spray lands on the tree trunks (but not on the tree leaves)?

dar31

you may wait now till the weeds start to green up again before spraying.

Amtmann

dar31 wrote: »

you may wait now till the weeds start to green up again before spraying.

Thanks dar. So the trees will be safe anyway?

deman

There used to be an application thing called a Roundup stick on the market that would be perfect for your job. Very selective poisoning of unwanted weeds around delicate plants.

ootbitb

would have thought 11 feet trees planted thickly enough would be keeping the ground shaded so reducing the need for poisons.

Amtmann

ootbitb wrote: »

would have thought 11 feet trees planted thickly enough would be keeping the ground shaded so reducing the need for poisons.

No, the foliage isn't very dense, and many of the trees are struggling due to vigorous competition for water from a very thick mat of weeds.