What's the name of this weed ?

Green farmer · 20-05-2015 11:21AM #1

Hi lads. I have an old pasture and when I look close to the sward, this pest is everywhere in the field. It grows low to the ground so topping doesn't get rid of it. What's the name of it and is there any sprays would get rid of it without damaging grass or clover too much. Thinking must be over 10%-20% of sward. Thanks ,

Dawggone · 20-05-2015 11:23AM

Green farmer wrote: »

Hi lads. I have an old pasture and when I look close to the sward, this pest is everywhere in the field. It grows low to the ground so topping doesn't get rid of it. What's the name of it and is there any sprays would get rid of it without damaging grass or clover too much. Thinking must be over 10%-20% of sward. Thanks ,

I think those are Plantain.

Sam Kade · 20-05-2015 11:24AM

Correct it's plantain

Birdnuts · 20-05-2015 11:25AM

Plantain. I have more of it this year too with the grass growth being so sluggish ATM

Green farmer · 20-05-2015 11:30AM

Thanks lads, what's the best way of getting rid ? It seems to be a "thug" of a weed. Spreads out on ground and takes over where grass should be growing .

ABlur · 20-05-2015 11:43AM

Green farmer wrote: »

Thanks lads, what's the best way of getting rid ? It seems to be a "thug" of a weed. Spreads out on ground and takes over where grass should be growing .

MCPA spray will do the job. Might be worth checking soil pH as it grows on soil lacking lime.

Green farmer · 20-05-2015 11:50AM

ABlur wrote: »

MCPA spray will do the job. Might be worth checking soil pH as it grows on soil lacking lime.

Your on the ball there. Ph 5.7, I spread some gran lime on it a month ago, but I think Im going to need a lot more lime.

C0N0R · 20-05-2015 12:59PM

People actively sow plantain in New Zealand for grazing! More so on dry land as it is a bit more drought resistant.

http://www.dairynz.co.nz/media/253815/1-78a_Plantain_establishment.pdf

frazzledhome · 20-05-2015 01:08PM

Guarantee you ph is under 6. It's called "poverty" here a real sign of lime required.

Plantain its one of ye things we look for taking land

ganmo · 20-05-2015 01:17PM

used to always see it on football pitches

johndeere3350 · 20-05-2015 02:59PM

We used sow plantain in NZ

Sam Kade · 20-05-2015 03:07PM

johndeere3350 wrote: »

We used sow plantain in NZ

Horses will eat it.

AP2014 · 20-05-2015 04:30PM

johndeere3350 wrote: »

We used sow plantain in NZ

Sam Kade wrote: »

Horses will eat it.

Is it palatable to cattle? Will they eat it in silage or if ya strip graze?

frazzledhome · 20-05-2015 07:04PM

Looked again is it sorrel? Low oh indicator also

RobertKK · 20-05-2015 07:25PM

AP2014 wrote: »

Is it palatable to cattle? Will they eat it in silage or if ya strip graze?

Yes cattle will eat it.

zzfh · 20-05-2015 07:30PM

came in here proud as punch thinking my old, illegal substance taking days were going to finally pay off..

leaving disappointed.

ganmo · 20-05-2015 08:32PM

frazzledhome wrote: »

Looked again is it sorrel? Low oh indicator also

I thought sorrel had leaves on stems, like docks only smaller

Markcheese · 20-05-2015 08:54PM

ganmo wrote: »

I thought sorrel had leaves on stems, like docks only smaller

Used to pick sorrel for work( a restaurant) was always mixing it up with docks -

Green farmer · 20-05-2015 09:19PM

frazzledhome wrote: »

Looked again is it sorrel? Low oh indicator also

Thanks frazzled, i don't think its sorrel. I Googled the plantain, and the pictures of what it looks like when it grows further looked abit familiar from last year.

Greengrass1 · 20-05-2015 09:38PM

Markcheese wrote: »

Used to pick sorrel for work( a restaurant) was always mixing it up with docks -

Dock soup yummm

Markcheese · 20-05-2015 10:15PM

^^^Sssshhhh ^^^^-

Would you be better spending the money on lime and soil testing than on the spray - and let the cows graze the plantain - ?
I'd guess there's a fair difference in productivity between the plantain they plant in Nz and the common stuff that just grows away here -

Green farmer · 20-05-2015 10:21PM

Tis all sheep here, so between the low ph and the level that the sheep graze the grass down to , probably plays abit into the plantains favour.

What's the name of this weed ?

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