Reeds and how to get rid of them

[peteinwilts]

Hi Guys

we have a huge amount of dense reeds springing up across the fields, probably because the weather has been so wet. We have probably got about a total of 10 acres of reeds sprung up in various places around the farm.

I would like to kill them, and plant suitable wildflowers in their places.

Does anyone know of a suitable bee-safe poison that will get rid of the reeds and will allow the fields to recover quickly?

Cheers
Pete

 

[peteinwilts]

actully, they may be juncus sp rushes

 

[oliver90owner]

Mole plough the field to drain it better? Cure the disease, not just the symptoms?

RAB

 

[crazy_bull]

Mole plough the field to drain it better? Cure the disease, not just the symptoms?

RAB

Yes unfortunatley this is the only permanent solution, they will keep coming back, strong glyphosate with a suitable wetter (sticking agent will check them and may even kill them them) constant topping will keep them in check, but drainage is the only true solution, drain the soil and they will disappear naturally.

C B

 

[peteinwilts]

i guess the weather over the last couple of years has played big part in it.

My father in law has lived there for over 70 years and have never known the fields so wet. The fields being clay does not help.

 

[victor meldrew]

Yep the fields around me are the same , there has been no let up in the weather . Likewise ,shallow soil over laying between 30 and 80 feet of clay . No wonder brick making was big in these parts!
VM

 

[Bee-Key-Pur]

Try Neonicotinoids, according to every other thread on this site, they seem to kill off every thing else, so should work on reeds...

 

[PBee]

i guess the weather over the last couple of years has played big part in it.

My father in law has lived there for over 70 years and have never known the fields so wet. The fields being clay does not help.

Bigger tractors/machinery tend to compact soil and reduce drainage - can also damage old underground field drains if they are present. We have always made hay using fairly ancient tractors - MF20, 135, Dexter etc and never had a problem with rushes. We let some of our land which was then cut for silage using contractors (modern heavy machinery) and within a few years the fields were full of rushes.

 

[theeggman]

Pete,
If you go the chemical route, we are informed by our neighbours that a weedkiller containing MCPA works if used after topping and a little regrowth is allowed to appear. The upside is that doesn't kill grass and is a lot cheaper than glyphosate.

Tim

 

[mbc]

Regular topping, drainage and a spot of lime should do the trick.

 

[iand]

Bigger tractors/machinery tend to compact soil and reduce drainage - can also damage old underground field drains if they are present. We have always made hay using fairly ancient tractors - MF20, 135, Dexter etc and never had a problem with rushes. We let some of our land which was then cut for silage using contractors (modern heavy machinery) and within a few years the fields were full of rushes.

We had some rushes to deal with when topping cow paddocks, our silaging was done with a Dexter so no heavy gear at that time. The problem spots were those which were always wet and very rarely if ever were ploughed, probably because they were peaty in nature & we were more likely to sink out of sight.

 

[PBee]

.......The problem spots were those which were always wet and very rarely if ever were ploughed, probably because they were peaty in nature & we were more likely to sink out of sight.

We have areas like that which we just leave as they are and cut some when (recently if) doing hay and use them for topping stacks of bales and then cattle bedding. In the newly colonised areas compaction is probably just contributory - the change in weather patterns seems to be the main driver.