Weed Puller. Thistles and reeds.

80sDiesel · 21-04-2017 11:50am #1

Will I be doing more harm than good to use one of those hand weed extractor tools to take up thistles and reeds in the field? Am I disturbing the root system etc and will just get more next year?

http://www.woodies.ie/garant-botanica-auto-weed-puller-1090956

Nekarsulm · 21-04-2017 12:23pm

Only harm you'll do is to your back.
Would you not be better to walk the same distance around the fields with a knapsack sprayer and spot treat them?
The 46 euro that thing costs would buy 10 litres of d50.

80sDiesel · 21-04-2017 12:33pm

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Only harm you'll do is to your back.
Would you not be better to walk the same distance around the fields with a knapsack sprayer and spot treat them?
The 46 euro that thing costs would buy 10 litres of d50.

But if I pull them am I slowly getting rid of them for good?

Nekarsulm · 21-04-2017 12:40pm

Can you be sure of getting the entire root out?

Those yokes are more often than not, advertised in the back pages of The Peoples Friend or The Woman's Weekly, alongside stairlifts and leak-proof incontinence pants, and their target audience are pensioners with 50sq metres of garden.

80sDiesel · 21-04-2017 4:53pm

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Can you be sure of getting the entire root out?

Those yokes are more often than not, advertised in the back pages of The Peoples Friend or The Woman's Weekly, alongside stairlifts and leak-proof incontinence pants, and their target audience are pensioners with 50sq metres of garden.

Ha ha. Next thing you know they will be putting big batteries in cars and diesel engines in Porsches.

mayota · 21-04-2017 6:16pm

Great double act there.

Nekarsulm · 21-04-2017 10:51pm

80sDiesel wrote: »

Ha ha. Next thing you know they will be putting big batteries in cars and diesel engines in Porsches.

Some kind of crazy talk, diesel's in a Porsche.... :eek:

Farmer · 22-04-2017 11:13am

I have a variation of that yoke. Red useless IMO, only for pulling out weeds from a flower bed.

duffysfarm · 22-04-2017 11:39am

I have a fiskars version of the weed puller and find it Good. If you get the thistle right the roosters pull up like a carrot. Some can be too small and some too big. Good for rag weed as well.

Fullerp · 03-11-2021 3:37pm

There are multiple types of weed pullers so I think if you choose the right one you won't harm anything.

patsy_mccabe · 03-11-2021 6:58pm

4 year old thread. I wonder if he still has weeds?

80sDiesel · 03-11-2021 7:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118114271#Comment_118114271

Nope. Knock the thistles in July and all good.

Fullerp · 08-11-2021 8:23am

There are multiple types of weed pullers so I think if you choose the right one you won't harm anything. You should just pay attention to circumstances and I think a cool plant fertilizers will work perfectly for your requirements. Don't forget there are several factors to be taken into consideration like the measurement of it, model, material, etc. If you'll consider all these details I think you will do a great job. But don't forget that you can always call a specialist in the end to do a great job.

divillybit · 08-11-2021 11:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/103294238#Comment_103294238

Would the fiskars be any good for pulling big roots like Docks from grassland? My old man hates the sight of docks so might get Santa to bring him one if it's any good?

80sDiesel · 08-11-2021 11:45am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118135274#Comment_118135274

I use a dock puller from lazy dog tools. Not cheap but it works. Spent an hour a day over the year digging them up. It’s akin to picking stones but it’s the only way to eradicate old docks.

divillybit · 08-11-2021 11:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118135345#Comment_118135345

Cheers for that. Just looked it up online.

https://lazydogtools.co.uk/pulling-docks-using-lazy-dog/

I've just looked up the fiskars weed puller on YouTube but just seems to be lads pulling dandelions from the front lawn. I've a fiskars maul for splitting timber and they make quality stuff.

duffysfarm · 08-11-2021 12:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118135274#Comment_118135274

no. the idea of the fiskars tool is good but i dont think its suited to farms or heavy duty use. i have gone through 2 of them and wont be getting another. i got one of those pink rag weed pullers and find these good for thistles also

endainoz · 08-11-2021 3:26pm

I have a rag fork for pulling up ragwort, does work for spear thistle aswell but I've heard it's actually better to cut thistles rather than pulling or spraying. Animals will eat them as they decay and are good for adding organic matter to the soil.

Lime Tree Farm · 08-11-2021 8:06pm

I have a trail camera set up to find out what is digging up ragwort at night. It will more than likely be badgers, feeding on earthworms.

Fullerp · 11-11-2021 10:02am

hmm

Lime Tree Farm · 11-11-2021 12:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118137969#Comment_118137969

Followed the trails around the grass today to find any dug up ragwort. He/she kindly left a calling card at one dug out. I took down the trail camera. Nothing to report, just 2 pics of a hare.

I took pics of the dug up ragwort along with the evidence. Pics to follow later.