When to spray rushes

lanod2407

Got the place topped last week and have the quad and sprayer ready to go to work - any advice on how long to leave it until I spray, and what ideally to spray with? I've a lot of rushes to get rid of

_Brian

Six weeks growth should be good for spraying.
MCPA or similar are good for rushes.

agriman27

I'd say you might be better of leave it for three or four weeks eat it again and then spray them when they have grown up a bit and are fresh growth. Mcpa works well. Ya missed it didn't spray before you got the topping done

Farrell

Been told lately, put out some bag manure, then in 2/3 weeks when good growth spray / lick then.
The poison will stunt the rush allowing the grass to smoother the dying rush & give a better kill

A cow called Daisy

The spray rushes before or after debate. Did both last year on 4/5 year old rushes. The results HERE were that the top, leave until tbere a re-growth and then spray again with mcpa worked best. I know they were different fields and different times of year but that what happened here.

Injuryprone

How soon after spraying with mcpa can you leave cattle in? I've read the sheet and it says 1) you can cut after 4days, 2) don't leave cattle in until toxic weeds are dead. I've no toxic weeds only rushes, do ye think 7 days would be ok? Sprayed last Thursday, field needs to be grazed ASAP.

CluanBomb

Sprayed some rushes myself during the week, have 20 acres of them in neglected land that I am working towards getting back to grass, soil isn't that bad just neglected fields. Plan to spray, wait 6 weeks and then cut.

However when driving through the rushes spraying I realised how rough the ground is, don't think I'll get a mower/topper through....any suggestions on best way to cut them?

drive it

Would I be wasting my money spraying rushes with mortone now? Is it to late?cut some of them 6 weeks ago rest of them 4 weeks ago

rangler1

Injuryprone wrote: »

How soon after spraying with mcpa can you leave cattle in? I've read the sheet and it says 1) you can cut after 4days, 2) don't leave cattle in until toxic weeds are dead. I've no toxic weeds only rushes, do ye think 7 days would be ok? Sprayed last Thursday, field needs to be grazed ASAP.

Not advising you or anything but I sprayed rushes on Monday and left the sheep on it

Phil Iam

Injuryprone wrote: »

How soon after spraying with mcpa can you leave cattle in? I've read the sheet and it says 1) you can cut after 4days, 2) don't leave cattle in until toxic weeds are dead. I've no toxic weeds only rushes, do ye think 7 days would be ok? Sprayed last Thursday, field needs to be grazed ASAP.

As far as I know ragwort is most toxic when it is dead and cattle should be kept out till it has rotted.