Getting rid of Rushes! Help!!!!!

OL16

Moderator please feel free to move to appropriate forum.

Hi all,

We have a 5 acre field which has heavy growth of Rushes and we want to get rid of them permanently. (I'm not a farmer. If I was maybe I'd know what to do).

We've been advised to get the field cut, wait 3 weeks (for new growth) and then spray the field with Roundup.

Any other suggestions/advice?

Also, could anyone advise us or put us in the right direction of someone who could spray the field for us? I've emailed a couple of contractors but no reply.
We live in Carlow.
Private message me if you like.

Thanks in advance for replies/advice.

Regard's,

SL

Hard Knocks

OL16 wrote: »

Moderator please feel free to move to appropriate forum.

Hi all,

We have a 5 acre field which has heavy growth of Rushes and we want to get rid of them permanently. (I'm not a farmer. If I was maybe I'd know what to do).

We've been advised to get the field cut, wait 3 weeks (for new growth) and then spray the field with Roundup.

Any other suggestions/advice?

Also, could anyone advise us or put us in the right direction of someone who could spray the field for us? I've emailed a couple of contractors but no reply.
We live in Carlow.
Private message me if you like.

Thanks in advance for replies/advice.

Regard's,

SL

Don’t spray with roundup as it kills everything

Look up DoneDeal there’s lots advertising Mulching services and contact the one in your area
After mulching fertilize with either bag fertilizer or slurry
Then spray with MCPA

Alternatively you could get someone to rush like/wipe with roundup

Has the field been grazed lately

893bet

OL16 wrote: »

We have a 5 acre field which has heavy growth of Rushes and we want to get rid of them permanently. (I'm not a farmer. If I was maybe I'd know what to do).

We've been advised to get the field cut, wait 3 weeks (for new growth) and then spray the field with Roundup.

SL

Above is accurate except you would spray with MPCA or similar.

You won’t get rid of them permanent easily. Their occurrence could be greatly reduced by drainage, regular cutting, spraying and fertiliser application.

The will need addressing regularly is the likely hood.

Why do you want rid all of a sudden?

OL16

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Don’t spray with roundup as it kills everything

Look up DoneDeal there’s lots advertising Mulching services and contact the one in your area
After mulching fertilize with either bag fertilizer or slurry
Then spray with MCPA

Alternatively you could get someone to rush like/wipe with roundup

Has the field been grazed lately

Thanks a mil for that advice.

Field has not been grazed for probably a few years. Very neglected.
After spraying I've read to wait about 10 days and get the field ploughed and harrowed so that we could then plant new grass seed?

OL16

893bet wrote: »

Above is accurate except you would spray with MPCA or similar.

You won’t get rid of them permanent easily. Their occurrence could be greatly reduced by drainage, regular cutting, spraying and fertilizer application.

The will need addressing regularly is the likely hood.

Why do you want rid all of a sudden?

We want to build on the field. As part of the planning process we may have to submit a site suitability report. Getting rid of the rushes and improving the overall look of the field (planting new grass etc, we feel would help out chances overall).

As I said earlier, I'm not a farmer so all of this is relatively new to me. Just looking for best advice.

OL16

Would it be ok to spay with Roundup as 'Hard Knocks' said it kills everything. Reason; we;re planing on ploughing the field after and reseeding.

kollegeknight

OL16 wrote: »

Would it be ok to spay with Roundup as 'Hard Knocks' said it kills everything. Reason; we;re planing on ploughing the field after and reseeding.

For planning, I’d get it mulched. Spray with mcpa and spread a little fertiliser.

I had to do similar and had plenty of grass growing quicker than the rushes.

It will take a bit of time to get right.
When do you hope to go for planning?

OL16

kollegeknight wrote: »

For planning, I’d get it mulched. Spray with mcpa and spread a little fertiliser.

I had to do similar and had plenty of grass growing quicker than the rushes.

It will take a bit of time to get right.
When do you hope to go for planning?

Thanks a mil.

We're getting a local farmer to cut the field , down to the roots (scutted!). I trust this will be the same as 'mulching'?
We were then thinking of getting it ploughed and harrowed and plant new grass on it.
We were looking at maybe August/September this year to apply for planning if all goes well?

hopeso

OL16 wrote: »

Thanks a mil.

We're getting a local farmer to cut the field , down to the roots (scutted!). I trust this will be the same as 'mulching'?
We were then thinking of getting it ploughed and harrowed and plant new grass on it.
We were looking at maybe August/September this year to apply for planning if all goes well?

Ploughing and reseeding is only going to be an unnecessary expense in that situation. Get them cut or mulched, and spray the regrowth. The field will look an awful lot better

madmaggie

I'd suggest bruising the plants before spraying with the likes of Nettleban or BanDock. Whacking the plants with a stick or walking on them. Rushes are tough and have a hard outer surface. Adding a tiny drop of washing up liquid to the spray will help with adhesion. I avoid Roundup as it kills everything, and looks awful. Ok for drives and yards, but not in a field. Hope this helps a fellow Scallion!

Bass Reeves

Is it Wire rush or bull rush. Either rush is hard to kill. Regular cutting will control rushes. Spraying will MCPA will kill Bull rush but they will come back. Lime will help but it will soften the ground. As well ground where rushes are tends to be low in P&K.

If there is the amount of rushers you say in the field reseeding is a waste of time and money. Clean any drains around or in the Field. Mulching is preferable to cutting as growth will rot down faster. However cutting will work but you will have to do it a few time. Cut now and again as late as the field will allow this autumn. Spread 10-10-20, 100kg/acre( you have to do it if reseeding anyway) and spread a 100kgsof granlime/acre as well. Repeat this next spring and cut rushes 2-3 times next year.

If you decide to spray use MCPA but get what is called a sticker, it softens the wax on the plant and this allows the chemical to stick onto the leave of the plant.

Aravo

Rushes are always an indicator of poor drainage/wet land. You can treat rushes but they will be back. Maybe not this year, but in a year or two they will reappear. Be careful building in wet areas. I hope the house footprint and percolation are not in a rushy area. A friend of mine is a planner and they are amazed at all the planning applications in poor land, even though there would be other sites available in better ground conditions. All done on basis of not ruining a good field. They once told me that they were about to refuse planning in a wet land area. A councillor queried what could be done and the planner told the councillor that they had done them a great favour. The land was full of rushes, water reeds etc. Pure muck. Better site found, new planning, everyone happy.
Maybe a pre planning consultation with a council official might assist. The councils have loads of mapping. Look at the planning website for the council, you can see old maps and new maps. A old map may show this as a wet area. With this drought the field may look ok after treatment but with climate change, this field is unlikely to get drier.

endainoz

Something as simple as a run with a mole plough could open up old drains and solve the drainage issue. (if there is one)

OL16

Thanks to all the poster's here who have given so much valuable information. Much appreciated.

OL16

endainoz wrote: »

Something as simple as a run with a mole plough could open up old drains and solve the drainage issue. (if there is one)

Biggest problem I have is trying to get people to do this work. Spraying, etc. I've emailed a couple of contractors but no reply.
If anyone knows people who can spray land, etc including using a mole plough.
Please PM me. I'm in Carlow. Will pay good money for the right people to carry out such work for us. Thanks.

PoorFarmer

OL16 wrote: »

Biggest problem I have is trying to get people to do this work. Spraying, etc. I've emailed a couple of contractors but no reply.
If anyone knows people who can spray land, etc including using a mole plough.
Please PM me. I'm in Carlow. Will pay good money for the right people to carry out such work for us. Thanks.

Might be better off ringing a contractor instead of email. Any of your farming neighbours should be able to give you a number a reliable one. If they have a young lad/lady round the place they might even be able to sort out the few bits you want done over the summer if they have the gear

OL16

PoorFarmer wrote: »

Might be better off ringing a contractor instead of email. Any of your farming neighbours should be able to give you a number a reliable one. If they have a young lad/lady round the place they might even be able to sort out the few bits you want done over the summer if they have the gear

True. Can't beat the phone call.

kollegeknight

OL16 wrote: »

Biggest problem I have is trying to get people to do this work. Spraying, etc. I've emailed a couple of contractors but no reply.
If anyone knows people who can spray land, etc including using a mole plough.
Please PM me. I'm in Carlow. Will pay good money for the right people to carry out such work for us. Thanks.

Do you have anyone in mind to dig foundations etc? They would know people.


I top rushes here and sometimes spray. But neighbour gets in a mulcher, turns them to powder and when followed up with spray mcpa, not roundup, the outcome is way quicker. Then mulch again a few weeks before percolation teat and some manure to push grass.

OL16

kollegeknight wrote: »

Do you have anyone in mind to dig foundations etc? They would know people.

Good advice.

I have an idea who to get to dig foundations all right.

I like your plan.
Do you or anyone know someone around Carlow area who would spray mcpa? Please PM me.
I think I have someone re mulcher work.

hopeso

OL16 wrote: »

Good advice.

I have an idea who to get to dig foundations all right.

I like your plan.
Do you or anyone know someone who would spray mcpa around Carlow? Please PM me.
I think I have someone re mulcher.

Are you local to the area? If you know any local farmer, they will know someone who will do the spraying.
Spraying a small field with mcpa isn’t a huge job. Any farmer with a sprayer would do it for you

kollegeknight

OL16 wrote: »

Good advice.

I have an idea who to get to dig foundations all right.

I like your plan.
Do you or anyone know someone around Carlow area who would spray mcpa? Please PM me.
I think I have someone re mulcher work.

I was in Carlow once In my life at the ploughing I think. Can’t help you sorry.

OL16

hopeso wrote: »

Are you local to the area? If you know any local farmer, they will know someone who will do the spraying.
Spraying a small field with mcpa isn’t a huge job. Any farmer with a sprayer would do it for you

Yes, and based on the info I'm getting here I think I've found someone who can help us out.

OL16

kollegeknight wrote: »

I was in Carlow once In my life at the ploughing I think. Can’t help you sorry.

And you'd think with the Plouging in Carlow and all I'd have no bother in getting someone!!

Thanks a mil anyway. Much appreciated.

I think I've found someone who could do the work I need done. The info I've got here has been invaluable.