Cutting rushes after spraying.

Homer jay

Hi, how long after spraying rushes with mcpa can one cut them ? They are sprayed 5 weeks and the top half of them are gone brown but still green at the bottom, tia. Homer.

MikeSoys

Careful as with this hot spell the rushes are a cooler area and you might find cattle lying in them to keep cool. I would give a quick spray again as with the drought it should have extra effect. I used to cut them after spraying but one lad said why bother...there as no need...

patsy_mccabe

I licked a lot of them in recent days with MCPA. I don't cut either. They'll die away and be just brown withered stumps by next year.

croot

Homer jay wrote: »

Hi, how long after spraying rushes with mcpa can one cut them ? They are sprayed 5 weeks and the top half of them are gone brown but still green at the bottom, tia. Homer.

I sprayed the beginning of July and I thought I got a terrible kill but in the last few days the drought has really kicked in and they have died off massively. And these were very strong rushes that I couldn't get at for the last few years. In another month they should have died off completely so I'm going to leave them and see.

_Brian

We sprayed a fair bit 4 weeks ago. They are dieing well, but still some green to be seen.

Pack says cut them 4 weeks before or after, probably the case that enough mcpa has circulated through the plant to keep killing the root.

Now, given this drought I can’t imagine the rushes are as active inside as nothing is. I’d worry cutting them too soon will stop the kill. We’re leaving them be for the moment. Might top them in September.

riemann

croot wrote: »

I sprayed the beginning of July and I thought I got a terrible kill but in the last few days the drought has really kicked in and they have died off massively. And these were very strong rushes that I couldn't get at for the last few years. In another month they should have died off completely so I'm going to leave them and see.

Ive always got the best kill when spraying just before good growing weather. Wouldn't consider spraying at the moment with the heat and lack of growth.

KatyMac

I got rushes licked 11th June and they are well dead by now,(they are probably about 10/12 inches tall) is there any chance they will just die back out of my way and let the bit of grass that's peeking around them actually grow or should I cut? It was a field that had gone to hell last year in the wet and this year it's like concrete.

_Brian

KatyMac wrote: »

I got rushes licked 11th June and they are well dead by now,(they are probably about 10/12 inches tall) is there any chance they will just die back out of my way and let the bit of grass that's peeking around them actually grow or should I cut? It was a field that had gone to hell last year in the wet and this year it's like concrete.

I really would resist cutting anything at the moment.
There’s a chance the harsh conditions will last and indeed get hotter again and shaved ground is bare to be burned dead.
If there’s green already showing just leave it on.

If the weather turned and growth eureka then I’ll be cutting them.

kevthegaff

I've a paddock very bad with them, what would ye do?

SuperTortoise

KatyMac wrote: »

I got rushes licked 11th June and they are well dead by now,(they are probably about 10/12 inches tall) is there any chance they will just die back out of my way and let the bit of grass that's peeking around them actually grow or should I cut? It was a field that had gone to hell last year in the wet and this year it's like concrete.

I sprayed ground last summer and due to the weather and land conditions i never got a chance to top them, this year they are all gone, just a bit of a tuft left and grass has taken hold.

KatyMac

Thanks lads, I'll hold fire so and see what happens.
I found a young lad, who went to school with my eldest, just starting up with a sprayer and licker so gave him the job - if this field cleans up well he will be getting plenty of repeat business from me and any neighbour I can influence!

KingNerolives

Can you spray rushes late at night even though it's warm?

_Brian

KingNerolives wrote: »

Can you spray rushes late at night even though it's warm?

Well it avoids the problem of sun.

However all plants are essentially at a growth pause at the moment. I wonder would the mcpa circulate through them when growth is essentially non existent.

All the sprays say to use when plants “are actively growing”, were at the opposite right now.

Hershall

Spot sprayed rushes the june bank holiday with round-up theyre burnt to a cinder now!!

Homer jay

That’s great, thanks for the replies, think I will cut them and spray the regrowth with mortox50 if there is ever any growth again ..... 👍👍 homer.

CHOPS01

Cut a 2 acre field that hadnt been touched in a good few years. All rushes so gonna bale it up to have it cleaned. Are the bales worth anything as bedding. I see the following prices on DD free !€2,€8,€9

TooOldBoots

Provided its free from ragwort then it would be a valuable replacement for straw which looks like it is going to be very scare this year.
Bales of straw were making €40 last spring.

_Brian

TooOldBoots wrote: »

Provided its free from ragwort then it would be a valuable replacement for straw which looks like it is going to be very scare this year.
Bales of straw were making €40 last spring.

Maybe if your awfully stuck.
But if you have weed free land it would be madness to introduce such a burden of rush seed into your dung. I have a lad that works for me doing it and I think he’s mad.

TooOldBoots

_Brian wrote: »

Maybe if your awfully stuck.
But if you have weed free land it would be madness to introduce such a burden of rush seed into your dung. I have a lad that works for me doing it and I think he’s mad.

You're 100% correct. You couldn't dream of using the dung from rush bales for anything more than filling a hole someplace. you could spread the rusher dung back out on the field that's covered in rushers already

A cow called Daisy

Have field which had a lot of rushes on it, it was grazed and topped in early June. After being grazed bare now and, as you would expect the rushes are still back.
Now, I want to spray them, but would also like to put slurry on the field as well. Was wondering should I spread the slurry now on the field (would look desperate with rushes covered with slurry) or top, slurry and spray at a later date. (And same issue probably again, less growth etc). And if I spread slurry now, how long should I leave before i spray.

mayota

A cow called Daisy wrote: »

Have field which had a lot of rushes on it, it was grazed and topped in early June. After being grazed bare now and, as you would expect the rushes are still back.
Now, I want to spray them, but would also like to put slurry on the field as well. Was wondering should I spread the slurry now on the field (would look desperate with rushes covered with slurry) or top, slurry and spray at a later date. (And same issue probably again, less growth etc). And if I spread slurry now, how long should I leave before i spray.

Could you spray now and spread slurry in a weeks time. Would do the finest.

A cow called Daisy

mayota wrote: »

Could you spray now and spread slurry in a weeks time. Would do the finest.

Wouldn't be a problem. Looking for an opinion on the time I should leave between each job.

jayc12

Could you use a weedlicker with round up or mcpa, this should protect your grass regrowth from the spray. If you could spread fertiliser first to get the grass and rushes growing after the dry spell and the rushes should absorb the spray better. Spray first and then get slurry on the ground 5 days later.

A cow called Daisy

Have easier access to a lad with a sprayer and would have had limited success with weed lickers bbefore. But stunting grass growth is an issue.

9935452

I licked a field that was covered in rushes in late october early november.
And got a great kill. It took a while but it happened. And they were very mature rushes

9935452

A cow called Daisy wrote: »

Have easier access to a lad with a sprayer and would have had limited success with weed lickers bbefore. But stunting grass growth is an issue.

The problem with the licker is people put it out too strong . It burns the leaves and doesnt get a chance to get to the roots when its too strong

TPF2012

9935452 wrote:

The problem with the licker is people put it out too strong . It burns the leaves and doesnt get a chance to get to the roots when its too strong

What dilution rate would you use Gallup at? Think I used 1/30 with good results. Sticker agent important too I think.

9935452

TPF2012 wrote: »

9935452 wrote:

The problem with the licker is people put it out too strong . It burns the leaves and doesnt get a chance to get to the roots when its too strong

What dilution rate would you use Gallup at? Think I used 1/30 with good results. Sticker agent important too I think.

30 or 40 to 1.
I was told 20 to 1 was too strong.