Reclaiming a field choked up with weeds

Bendihorse

I have recently acquired the use of a 5 acre field that was left fallow for a number of years having previously been used to graze cows. Roughly 2 years ago a farmer decided he would fix it up and use it for grazing again, he leveled a ditch through the middle of the field and I'm told by the owner that the farmer tilled it but I can't be sure. Anyway, for whatever reason, he decided not to proceed with his venture and it was left go fallow again.

So now I have two horses grazing it, it put up a good flush of grass in spring (which looked fairly wild but ok for horses) but now it has become completely choked up with weeds that are three feet high including docks, thistles and ragworth!

I really need to reclaim it urgently especially with the presence of ragworth, but I don't know whether to to full hog and plough it and reseed it or top the weeds then spray it.
I also don't know when is the best time of year to do it. I have spent 3k on fencing it and want it kept right for the medium to long term. It's not boggy ground it's up on a hill beside the coast and is naturally very well drained.
Thanks for any advice!

Username John

I wouldn't be the best to comment, as haven't done that much reseeding... But I will anyways

If you topped now.
Spray mid to end Aug, weeds would want to be green again to kill em and might take a while for this...
Then plough and reseed start to mid sept. You're weather dependant obviously and the further you get into Sept the risk increases...

ganmo

Username John wrote: »

I wouldn't be the best to comment, as haven't done that much reseeding... But I will anyways

If you topped now.
Spray mid to end Aug, weeds would want to be green again to kill em and might take a while for this...
Then plough and reseed start to mid sept. You're weather dependant obviously and the further you get into Sept the risk increases...

definitely top now

after that you have plenty of options personally I'd keep the horses off it until you have it right.
if you can justify reseeding plough on (couldn't resist).but if you only have it rented topping early on in the year will help stop the weeds taking over

6270red

Top it and spray with forefront t after 2-3 week some job

Bendihorse

Thanks lads, will top and spray so and take it from there. I'm new to the area and don't have any agricultural contacts here, where's good to go looking for a contractor? I know it's a micky mouse job so most wont want to know about it but I'll have to pay up. Where do contractors advertise? Had a quick look on donedeal and didn't see anything...

Merrion

Put pigs on it - they'll plough it up and eat the roots of all the weeds...

Water John

Contact a local farm relief service (google FRS).
Need to check if there are stones where the ditch was knocked.

Bass Reeves

I would top and spray. If there is that amount weeds there the roots are more than likly very strong and will not die completely with reseeding. As well unless P&K and ph are right it is a waste of time reseeding. Remember to spray again next year as ragworth is a bieneal

bullnuts

Weed licker with 10%roundup mix !keep the carpet damp but not dripping!

blue5000

As already said, top, spray off re-growth, then direct drill grass seed instead of ploughing, you could be picking stones for a long time there.

Base price

Bendihorse if you do decide to top or spray make sure you keep the horses off it as ragwort becomes palatable as it dries out and you can be guaranteed that the horses will eat it. Best thing to do would be to pull it all and clear the field first.

Username John

blue5000 wrote: »

As already said, top, spray off re-growth, then direct drill grass seed instead of ploughing, you could be picking stones for a long time there.

Yep - if stoney, would steer away from plughing.

But, if not, would it not be better to throw down the old sod? I would have though direct drilling onto this wouldn't be great, as there could be a lot of old trash there - between the sprayed weeds and the toppings?

Have never direct drilled tho, so dont know much about it...

Water John

Direct drilling is fine if there isn't much trash. Otherwise the rotting trash compromises the seed conditions.

kowtow

Given all that is said above about ragworth, whats the minimum safe time to let cows back in? Would it work to spray a few standing ragworth and thistles first, wait a few days, then top and wait 3 or 4 weeks to graze again ?

or better to top well now, come in with forefront in a couple of weeks, and graze it as soon as it is fit to graze (or is there another waiting period after the spraying to deal with any very small dying ragworth?)

I know the answer is probably pick any standing now, but sometimes these things come in clumps or you miss the odd one

cj maxx

kowtow wrote: »

Given all that is said above about ragworth, whats the minimum safe time to let cows back in? Would it work to spray a few standing ragworth and thistles first, wait a few days, then top and wait 3 or 4 weeks to graze again ?

or better to top well now, come in with forefront in a couple of weeks, and graze it as soon as it is fit to graze (or is there another waiting period after the spraying to deal with any very small dying ragworth?)

I know the answer is probably pick any standing now, but sometimes these things come in clumps or you miss the odd one

I think most sprays say 7 days for poisonous weeds like ragwort before grazing or cutting

Water John

The 7 days would relate to the spray. Ragwort, is poisonous itself and more palatable when dying. I think 4 to 6 weeks is more applicable.
If there is a lot of growth including ragwort, I would consider mowing and baling to remove. Number of people do this to remove rushes. Dispose of bales.
Would clean an area.
Ragwort is a biennial as pointed out. By spraying in Feb/March I think you would get an optimum kill as you are hitting the rosettes of the 2 years TMK.