Clearing rushes

Jb1989 · 25-05-2021 2:09pm

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Spraying or licking will not get rid of rushers unless continually used. Cutting will weaken any weed if done often enough. Now on some very wed land that can be an issue. However on that type of ground spraying will struggle as well

Most lads only cut rushes once a year. At the he start you need to cut 3-4 times a year to weaken them. Ideally bales up the bulky first cut and dispose of it, a mulcher is not as effective as removal but it is preferable to letting tuskers just sit on the ground smothering the grass regrowth. Then cut as often as possible for rest of the year.

The later the last cut the better of you can get into the field in late September or early October in a dry Autumn great. If you get hard frost when the rush root is open and cut tight with no regrowth it really set them back.

After 2-3 years just keep them topped 2-3 times a year. When they are weak like this continually cutting keeps them weak as well cattle will eat them if they make up a small percentage of the sward and are young and soft regrowths.

There is a huge push to ban MCPA at present it may happen in the next few years so lads will need to figure out ways to control rushers without it.

Other factors to help control them.is soil fertility. There was s no point in getting rid of them if the grass has not enough nutrients to grow. Access to nutrients is controlled by PH. PH on wet ground is alway a battle. Ground lime can be hard to apply and lime loss during the winter is very high. Historically out grandparents or great grandparents used burnt lime on this type of ground. There is a product called Growmax, it a high PH granular burnt lime. It rises pH very fast. I say it would be idea on ground like this applied as early as possible in the spring it would rise the PH of the ground very fast and allow efficiency of nutrients to increase.

P&K would be critical and should be applied as early as possible in the year. For a lot of this type of land that means slurry may not be optimal unless it can be spread in April/May. Use of lighter machinery such as Quads and mane umbilical systems on tractors with wider tyres helps prevent compaction

Drainage may be a long-term solution but the above will still be needed

On our well heavy ground, it took the sprayer to put manners on.
10 years ago I done One year of spraying and a second year to hit the regrowth,
Two thirds of the ground never came back since, other third would have needed touching up twice in that period.

No way am I going back to topping rushes once or three times a year till the mcpa ban-gun has been put to my head.
Better uses for my time than topping.

monseiur · 25-05-2021 2:27pm

RobinBanks wrote: »

How long would ye normally wait before cutting rushes that were sprayed.

Wait 6 to 8 weeks after spraying, then cut/mulch then drain land as required. Spread 3 bags 10 10 20 or similar per acre.

monseiur · 25-05-2021 2:38pm

johnytwentyten wrote: »

Hi,

My family have a two acre field which is totally covered in rushes, we want to clean it up and looking for some advice as I have no experience in this area,

From googling it, my plan was to strim the rushes, wait for regrowth, then spray using a mix of mortone and presto, using a quad sprayer (as this is what's recommended in the mortone instructions), I know the field would need to be drained properly to really sort the issue but just want to clean it up first,

Does this sound ok? And if so, how soon could you let animals into the field after spraying, my sister was planning on getting a few donkeys,

Thanks in advance for any replies,

As the field is totally covered in rushes chances are the grass is killed off.
You should give it a good soaking with a glyphosate weed killer Roundup, Gallup or similar.
After 4 to 6 weeks plough, drain and reseed. Not the cheapest option but the best in the long term.
If fences are good get a few sheep, perhaps a few wether lambs. They're much better grazers than donkeys and will keep land in tip top condition and you'll have a regular supply of very cheap organic meat !

Dinzee Conlee · 25-05-2021 2:43pm

monseiur wrote: »

As the field is totally covered in rushes chances are the grass is killed off.
You should give it a good soaking with a glyphosate weed killer Roundup, Gallup or similar.
After 4 to 6 weeks plough, drain and reseed. Not the cheapest option but the best in the long term.
If fences are good get a few sheep, perhaps a few wether lambs. They're much better grazers than donkeys and will keep land in tip top condition and you'll have a regular supply of very cheap organic meat !

It all sounds like a good plan - but I am not sure you can say ‘spray with roundup’ and then follow up with ‘you’ll have organic meat’

SpraySafely · 25-05-2021 2:56pm

Jb1989 wrote: »

No way am I going back to topping rushes once or three times a year till the mcpa ban-gun has been put to my head.

Probably best to avoid spraying fields containing livestock then.

Or at least don't publicly admit to doing so.

Jb1989 · 25-05-2021 3:23pm

SpraySafely wrote: »

Probably best to avoid spraying fields containing livestock then.

Or at least don't publicly admit to doing so.

I don't follow, can you explain what you mean a bit more.?

funkey_monkey · 08-08-2022 1:01pm

Got some fields with rushes in them. Was previously rented ground so not looked after the best. Should we get them mulched in Feb/Mar and then sprayed off in May/Jun time - or can we just spray them in May/June time? I'd be worried that there would not be sufficient regrowth for the MCPA in that timeframe. Should we also soil sample at the time of spraying? The intention was to kill off the rushes and then look into putting some life into the ground.

RockOrBog · 08-08-2022 1:38pm

Any time of year is good to attack the dreaded rush. I cut and 4 weeks later spray. Lime is your friend and fertilize the grass.

Ideally improve the drainage.

Jb1989 · 08-08-2022 1:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119444791#Comment_119444791

+1

funkey_monkey · 08-08-2022 2:37pm

What's the view on gran lime vs crushed lime? Beside a number of houses so I might have to go with gran lime. Might be easier travelling with the fert sower tbf.

Anto_Meath · 08-08-2022 2:50pm

I have a bit of land rented over the road this last few 4 years. There is a 4 acre field in at the back its a bit soft, it was in a bad way with rushes the first year, I topped them around this time of year, it was slow, difficult and hard on shear pins, then I put about 100 kgs of fertilizer on it. At the end of August I sprayed it with MCPA. In fairness that got rid of about 50% of the rushes, done the same the following year 2020. Spring 2021 I put 600 kg of grow lime on it, so last August there was very little rushes in it, but I still topped it, fertilized it and done the few bunches that appeared with the hand lance. In March of this year it got 200 kgs of fertilizer, I had surplus grass this year (due to TB) so I closed off this field in early June, I was planning on strip grazing it, but it got went too strong so I mowed it last Wednesday evening and baled 43 bales of as nice haylage off it on Saturday, I was very extremely happy as I drew the last bale out the gate. I ll give it another dust of fert next week and will probably give it a dust of grow lime again next spring God willing.

RockOrBog · 09-08-2022 12:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119445276#Comment_119445276

I usually pay around €200 a tonne for granulated lime in 50 kilo bags. I got a few tonne last week for €110 a tonne, I think the rest is subsidised by the government atm.

Sillycave · 09-08-2022 11:31am

where did u get gran lime for that cost? Didn’t hear anything about a subsidy, priced some last week and was €220 a ton

RockOrBog · 09-08-2022 8:32pm

Homeland

funkey_monkey · 11-12-2022 2:21pm

So here is the rushes after spraying. There are still some green stalks in them. Did the MCPA fail to do a complete kill or is that the way of it?

What should be the plan for next year? I'm thinking get pH tested and lime if necessary in spring after mulching it down. Spray any young regrowth in the summer.

Field has been drained so that part should be okay.

Jb1989 · 11-12-2022 4:42pm

They were just a bit strong for spraying, they'll probably need another dose next spring, unless your fit to top them now with the frost, then the green stems might just die come spring.

wrangler · 11-12-2022 6:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119983400#Comment_119983400

You should've mowed beforehand and then spray the regrowth 4 or 5 weeks after mowing.

The rush being hard and stemmy, as it is there, can't absorb the spray properly.

MCPA works great here on rushes, I also put small amount of washing up liquid in the spray to help it stick

funkey_monkey · 11-12-2022 9:30pm

@wrangler - does that get the regrowth as early as that? I had thought it would take a bit longer for it to come back. Yeah should have mulched it first but was fed up looking at them and took a chance to get them sprayed. Will sort that next year.

Do you check your pH on it too as I've read that pH can affect their regrowth.

wrangler · 11-12-2022 9:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985015#Comment_119985015

I suppose regrowth depends on time of year, I mowed them april may when they'd be growing well, they don't be long growing back, don't let them get stemmy and hard again anyway.

Ph would always be alright here

deise man · 11-07-2024 4:28pm

How much washing up liquid do you add. Thanks

deise man · 11-07-2024 4:29pm

How much washing up liquid do you add. Th

50HX · 12-07-2024 12:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122368361#Comment_122368361

Anymore & you'll be plagued with suds when washing out after

deise man · 12-07-2024 10:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122370072#Comment_122370072

Sorry, how much do you add? Thanks

funkey_monkey · 12-07-2024 3:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122368361#Comment_122368361

Check what ever product you buy as it might have a wetting agent already in it.

If you are getting a contractor in to spray they might not be keen on fairy due to suds.

I'll be spraying rushes in a few weeks and I'll be adding a proper wetting agent.

50HX · 12-07-2024 8:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122370842#Comment_122370842

50ml of quix I used to use, I don't bother anymore.

I don't spray rushes anymore unless I've 48hrs of dry weather after guaranteed, better than washing up liquid

deise man · 12-07-2024 8:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122373236#Comment_122373236

Perfect thanks

Base price · 12-07-2024 9:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122373246#Comment_122373246

Advice - mix/agitate the herbicide in the tank/sprayer before adding washing up liquid otherwise you will have foam bubbling out. When you add the washing up liquid using a tank then just give the tank a quick agitation. If using a knapsack for spot treatment, make sure the lid is secure and give it ten good shakes, set it down on the ground for a few minutes before strapping it on.