What spray for docks in reseeded ground?

Buncha Fives

We recently reseeded 12 acres and the grass seed is coming up well. The field was in Maize the last 2 years and when we went to plough in the spring there wasn't enough green on the field to justify spraying with roundup beforehand, so we ploughed and went through the reseeding process.

We left the clover out of the grass mix because we knew that we would have to spray for docks etc. when the grass started to appear, as there had always been quite a few docks in the field. The docks are coming up quite strong now and we will need to spray it soon, I have heard that doxstar is the best spray available but it is very expensive, has anyone got any other suggestions?

Farmer Pudsey

How long is it since planting are the docks just beyond seedling stage if so MCPA will more than likly kill as they will not have developed roots. Or was it sprayed with Gysophate before planting in which case you may have mature docks. You would have to read labels on spray to see what is suitable. There are a good few options available as you have no clover to proptect but docks at seedling or even a bit beyond are easy enough to kill. Idealy you should have gone in with MCPA at seedling stage when the grass got to 3 leaf.

Buncha Fives

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

How long is it since planting are the docks just beyond seedling stage if so MCPA will more than likly kill as they will not have developed roots. Or was it sprayed with Gysophate before planting in which case you may have mature docks. You would have to read labels on spray to see what is suitable. There are a good few options available as you have no clover to proptect but docks at seedling or even a bit beyond are easy enough to kill. Idealy you should have gone in with MCPA at seedling stage when the grass got to 3 leaf.

Its four weeks since it the grass seed was put in, the grass is has been up for the last two weeks but it is only starting to get going now because of the poor growth in the first two weeks. I pulled a few of the docks and they seem to have fairly bit roots.

Farmer Pudsey

Buncha Fives wrote: »

Its four weeks since it the grass seed was put in, the grass is has been up for the last two weeks but it is only starting to get going now because of the poor growth in the first two weeks. I pulled a few of the docks and they seem to have fairly bit roots.

MCPA should kill them but be careful because of the dry weather. When you say fair bits of roots are they old or new roots. Chance the MCPA as it will set them back and is approved for new reseeds and if there is an issue you can spray with a dock spray such as Hi-Load micram later in the year.

Johnsey

What can happen in dry weather with mcpa? ... Just wondering

Farmer Pudsey

Johnsey wrote: »

What can happen in dry weather with mcpa? ... Just wondering

With any selective weedkiller as non suspectible plants are under pressure from the drout they can be killed as well. Also some sprays are slow acting and depend on the spray being drawn into the root, the spray may kill the upper part of the plant before reaching the root. Ar far as I know these are the issues.

Muckit

Sorry to jump in on this tread, but what is a good spray for spot spraying docks with a knap sack in mature grassland?

Farmer Pudsey

Muckit wrote: »

Sorry to jump in on this tread, but what is a good spray for spot spraying docks with a knap sack in mature grassland?

Roundup will work and can be used if docks are after being topped and have a circular formation other than that anyspray that kill docks use a activator that will make the spray more efficent( it softens the wax on the leaf and sticks the spray to the plant). Hi-load micra or any spray with
Mecoprop-p and Dicamba will kill docks.

When you go into a co-op or a agri-store all you have to do is read the label on the spray. Also note down the ingredient and you can find the generic sprays such as Micram that are cheap.


Also for spot spraying you can mix it on a bit stronger and not have to be spraying for ages.

Buncha Fives

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

MCPA should kill them but be careful because of the dry weather. When you say fair bits of roots are they old or new roots. Chance the MCPA as it will set them back and is approved for new reseeds and if there is an issue you can spray with a dock spray such as Hi-Load micram later in the year.

I was going to spray them with bandit, we have used it before and it was a very good hit. With the weather being very dry at the moment would it be best to leave it off or could I spray in the evening (say after 7pm) when it gets a bit cooler??