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The floods have dried up and the results of a wet winter and Spring are now showing.
Continued water logging has damaged soil structure and fertility,but Ragwort has not suffered from the wet or the frost and is now responding to the sunlight and raising temperatures. The flat
rosettes are starting to show the first signs of second year growth, with substantial foliage developmet.
Grazing paddocks have been extensively damaged by stock, leading in many cases to a substantial loss in sward coverage. In many rough pastures Ragwort biomass is in excess of that of grass.
Levels of grassland infestation by Ragwort are the highest we have yet recorded, with some rough pasture land showing Ragwort densities of over 50 plants per square metre.
Now is a particularly useful time to deploy teams to clear out the small Ragwort rosettes from grazing pastures. Our teams use hoop lifters to remove the whole crown from the ground. This is
easily achieved at the moment while the ground is still soft.
BURN OR COMPOST THE PLANTS SAFELY AWAY FROM STOCK, and generously reseed the bare soil left by the removal operation using a 50/50 sand seed mix.
Hoof damage to the waterlogged sward is extensive in many paddocks and we are already seeing cases of Ragwort seed germination in the bare soil exposed by the damage. A thick grass sward is the
strongest protection against Ragwort germination, so prompt repair to all pasture damage is the best line of defence.
Our teams reseed using 50/50 (by volume) sand /seed mix as a spot application to all bare soil, or broadcast to patches thinned through wear or water logging. Be careful to use low Fructan grasses
for reseeding otherwise if you use some of the strong vigorous new grasses you may promote laminitis in the grazing horses
Consult your seed suppliers for professional advice for your particular soil and paddock requirements
** ONE DAYS WORK IN APRIL WILL SAVE WEEKS OF WORK IN JUNE ***
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