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Post by bruff64 on Jul 17, 2014 19:21:45 GMT -5
This little weed has been slowly taking over my pasture around the barn. The one plant on the farm that the Dexters would not eat. Subsequently the colonies of this plant have been expanding into a monoculture of 2 foot high weed islands in the pasture. I did not want to use a herbicide to control it. Last week I took a sythe to the plants and laid them clean to the ground. After wilting and drying for a day the cows went crazy for them and cleaned them up. Must be the tart acid in the leaves dissipates during the wilting process. I just read that they are an annual so hopefully I got them before the went to seed. Anyone else have a problem with this weed?
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Post by bruff64 on Jul 17, 2014 19:23:36 GMT -5
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Post by midhilldexters on Jul 17, 2014 19:35:31 GMT -5
I googled it and then realized yes, I have it also I just never knew what it was called. It comes up here in bare patches, like where I clean up bale piles. I mow it but it seems to always come back, so I spray big areas of it.
Carol K
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Post by wvdexters on Jul 18, 2014 8:13:08 GMT -5
Hey Bruff, Yes I've seen it growing here too. Like Carol K, I didn't know what it was called. Can't say it is a problem as it is only here and there but thanks for the heads up. We'll be getting after it now and hopefully it won't become one.
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Post by midhilldexters on Jul 18, 2014 12:46:03 GMT -5
WVDexters, when I googled it yesterday I found something that said one plant could produce 19000 seeds, yikes, no wonder it spreads fast. You better either mow or spray quick. I'm out bush hogging pastures today and looked where I sprayed and it's back, so guess I will use something a little stronger next time. I also noticed where I mow that it sends up more seed heads. It's quite invasive stuff.
Carol K
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Post by bruff64 on Jul 18, 2014 13:05:28 GMT -5
I first noticed it 2 years ago, but it was limited to a few small patches. Last year it advanced noticeably. This year it is really on the march. I could see that if I did not take some action I would have 1 1/2 acres of it by next summer. It grows so dense that it shades out the grasses and clover.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Jul 19, 2014 5:49:24 GMT -5
We've had this showing up in our sacrifice areas. I attributed it to the cold winter, late thaw and soggy ground from the thaw. We get hay from a two year old alfalfa field across the road, and I've even seen it in a few spots there now. I've not seen it before this year.
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Post by carragheendexters on Jul 20, 2014 19:21:50 GMT -5
When I looked at your link I thought that it looked like our "smartweed" here in Australia, and as I read further it did mention smartweed.
Ours looks a little different, we have two varieties, one is more invasive than the other. Our coastal property is on a swamp and is very low and flat. The smartweed just loves the wetter paddocks. We were advised that it loves acid soil but hates better pH soil and struggles to grow. We limed these particular paddocks more heavily as they are more acid than the rest of the property.
So maybe if you do some soil testing, find out your soil pH and lime at an appropriate level it may help you in your battle to control it.
It is seasonal as you say being an annual, and is a prolific seeder. We try and pull out as much as we can by the roots when it is young, so that it doesn't have a chance to get near flowering stage.
If you do hand pull, some serious advice, wear gloves and don't touch anywhere near your mouth or eyes, or you will quickly find out why it is called smartweed. That is why stock won't eat it or any grasses around it. It burns like crazy if you get it in your mouth or eyes.
Ask me how I know?
There are selective herbicides to spray, we can use Grazon, I don't know if you can get that over there. It is for woody weeds, also good for blackberry, but it won't harm your pasture species.
The other thing is that annual weed species seedbanks usually lasts around 7 years, so you need to be on to it for at least 7 years before you start to get rid of it totally.
We have been going for 14 years on ours, and just when we think we are there we have a new outbreak the next year. I think the seed is blowing from our neighbours property.
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