Dandelion Problem.

pat73

My silage/hay fields are been taking over by dandelions.Last year i had a lot of them,i was putting it down to the cold spring.I was walking the same fields today and they really seem to be taking over.Some have already flowered .I have not spread my fertilizer yet so my questions are is it too early to spray.would i be better spreading first and then spraying and would the chemicals stunt the growth.Whats the best chemical to spray with.The fertilizer is dear enough besides the chemicals slowing it down.

Birdnuts

I wouldn't loose the head over it yet - unlike docks, rushes, buttercups etc. stock find dandelion leaves quiet palateable:)

PS: Indeed the likes of rabbits and hares go mad for it!!

pat73

Birdnuts wrote: »

I wouldn't loose the head over it yet - unlike docks, rushes, buttercups etc. stock find dandelion leaves quiet palateable:)

PS: Indeed the likes of rabbits and hares go mad for it!!

Thats nice to hear but its a crop of silage/hay im after.My crops were light over this problem last year so if anyone had this problem their advice would be welcome.

jeff greene

Herbicides containing 2,4-D, MCPP will kill dandelions, spray now and again in the fall if needed. Dandelions usually indicate an open sward, they like sunlight.

X1R

Any of the common sprays will do. M50/Mortone/dioweed/duplosan they will all sort the problem for you. Wait till this wet spell is over and when the growth starts again hit it.

Jack C

I remember an advisor telling me that dandelions thrive in soils deficient in potash. Might you have that problem?

pat73

jeff greene wrote: »

Herbicides containing 2,4-D, MCPP will kill dandelions, spray now and again in the fall if needed. Dandelions usually indicate an open sward, they like sunlight.

Would u spray before the fertilizer goes out?.The fields are good open pieces of ground alright.No prob making hay when we get some sun.

pat73

X1R wrote: »

Any of the common sprays will do. M50/Mortone/dioweed/duplosan they will all sort the problem for you. Wait till this wet spell is over and when the growth starts again hit it.

Would any of these stunt the growth?.

pat73

Jack C wrote: »

I remember an advisor telling me that dandelions thrive in soils deficient in potash. Might you have that problem?

Just got out my soil samples to have a look.This is the reading for these fields in question.PH 5.82 ,potassium mg/l 101 ,phosphorus mg/l 4.09.lime requirements 3.75 tonnes/ha .Got them done through reps.Didnt take much notice of them til now.

X1R

pat73 wrote: »

Would any of these stunt the growth?.

Once you stick to the rates on the label you shouldn't really notice but it depends on a few things,
1: Are they newly sown leys?
2: How established the grass is?
3: The lad spraying, is he at it a while, does he know the speed/rate etc.
4: The weather, drought/wet spells will effect the ability of the spray.

Hope this helps, JC.

Muckit

pat73 wrote: »

Just got out my soil samples to have a look.This is the reading for these fields in question.PH 5.82 ,potassium mg/l 101 ,phosphorus mg/l 4.09.lime requirements 3.75 tonnes/ha .Got them done through reps.Didnt take much notice of them til now.

Potash (k) levels should be 75 or higher. So at 101 you seem ok.

Phosphate (P) should be 4 or higher. At 4.09 this could be higher.

People, correct me if I'm wrong. This is what a Teagasc advisor told me, but I wouldn't take it as gospel!:rolleyes:

Lime 3.75tonnes/ha = 1.5tonnes/acre, this isn't alot. PH needs to be over 6, possibly 6.5?? Again I might be a little off the mark!

We used to have alot of dandelions/buttercups years ago. Haven't had them in years. Not sure if it was topping or a change in fertiliser spread that got rid of them.

Sorry I'm of little help to you:o

blue5000

I'm inclined to agree with birdnuts on this one, they have a deep taproot and I reckon they bring up minerals from lower down in the soil that grassroots don't reach. They are a pain on light sandy land though, poaching helps to spread them.

pat73

Muckit wrote: »

Potash (k) levels should be 75 or higher. So at 101 you seem ok.

Phosphate (P) should be 4 or higher. At 4.09 this could be higher.

People, correct me if I'm wrong. This is what a Teagasc advisor told me, but I wouldn't take it as gospel!:rolleyes:

Lime 3.75tonnes/ha = 1.5tonnes/acre, this isn't alot. PH needs to be over 6, possibly 6.5?? Again I might be a little off the mark!

We used to have alot of dandelions/buttercups years ago. Haven't had them in years. Not sure if it was topping or a change in fertiliser spread that got rid of them.

Sorry I'm of little help to you:o

Its more than i knew about the way it worked.I must spread that lime in the autumn.No point in paying for soil samples if i dont do as the results say.As for the two fields with the dandelions they are on an outside farm.I take 2 cuts every year and a bit of grazing up to xmas.I would spread 18-6-12 on those fields for a cut of hay.I have dandelion free fields around the home farm.