Leaving off spraying docks?

bbam

Well silage ground has started to grow a decent thick cover, it might be short but has thickened up well in the last few days.. And I finally feel like we'll get some sort of crop !

We have a few patches of docks which we had planned to spray and I'd say the time is about right..

But.. Since the grass got it so hard to get going, its a few weeks behind what I would expect.. We're going to leave spraying the docks for fear of checking the growth when its already tender and behind..

Is it just as effective to spray them later in the year, when they regrow after silage is cut and counted??

Farmer Pudsey

bbam wrote: »

Well silage ground has started to grow a decent thick cover, it might be short but has thickened up well in the last few days.. And I finally feel like we'll get some sort of crop !

We have a few patches of docks which we had planned to spray and I'd say the time is about right..

But.. Since the grass got it so hard to get going, its a few weeks behind what I would expect.. We're going to leave spraying the docks for fear of checking the growth when its already tender and behind..

Is it just as effective to spray them later in the year, when they regrow after silage is cut and counted??

Yes it is just as effective and will have the advantage that the docks will be slightly weaker after seeding the disadvantage is that these seeds will be present in nthe ground and will germinate after poaching or reseeding. However there may be a few years of them there. Also remember it may take a second spray next year to really docks with strong root systems

quadboy

does mcpa work on docks

bbam

Think it's dock star we have at home for them.

countryjimbo

quadboy wrote: »

does mcpa work on docks

No it doesn't, my father used it once, looked to wither them for a bit but they came on as strong as ever in a few weeks :eek:

delaval

bbam wrote: »

Well silage ground has started to grow a decent thick cover, it might be short but has thickened up well in the last few days.. And I finally feel like we'll get some sort of crop !

We have a few patches of docks which we had planned to spray and I'd say the time is about right..

But.. Since the grass got it so hard to get going, its a few weeks behind what I would expect.. We're going to leave spraying the docks for fear of checking the growth when its already tender and behind..

Is it just as effective to spray them later in the year, when they regrow after silage is cut and counted??

Spray after 1st cut when they come back like lettuce. Shell D50 and half rate Foundation works well here but will need another spray again next year.
We have used all the off the shelf sprays found them expensive and having average effect

Farmer Pudsey

delaval wrote: »

Spray after 1st cut when they come back like lettuce. Shell D50 and half rate Foundation works well here but will need another spray again next year.
We have used all the off the shelf sprays found them expensive and having average effect

High load Micram and an activator which soffens the wax on the leaf about 10 euro/acre if you are not worried about clover. This will give the field a good clean.What is in Foundation and is it approved for grassland. D50 is only MCPA I think. Dockstar is rotten dear and you mat still have to spray twice

dharn

quadboy wrote: »

does mcpa work on docks

No, docstar, or bandock

Farmer Pudsey

dharn wrote: »

No, docstar, or bandock

Docstar and Bandock are brand names and are overpriced. There are much cheaper ways to kill Docks.

Its a bit like Ivomec and ivermectin.

delaval

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

High load Micram and an activator which soffens the wax on the leaf about 10 euro/acre if you are not worried about clover. This will give the field a good clean.What is in Foundation and is it approved for grassland. D50 is only MCPA I think. Dockstar is rotten dear and you mat still have to spray twice

I throw in te D50 for other weeds as spryer travellling the paddock anyway

JohnBoy

what are people's views on hurler?


Also is there one small silver lining in all this weather? the docks are looking pretty rough in our place