Africa
Asia Pacific
Australasia
Europe
Latin America and Caribbean
North America
Controlling weeds in paddocks
Controlling weeds in paddocks is crucial because they compete with grass for nutrients, can harm horses, minimise grazing space, and make pastures untidy.
Controlling weeds in paddocks is crucial because they compete with grass for nutrients, can harm horses, minimise grazing space, and make pastures untidy.
Why is weed control essential for healthy paddocks?
Controlling weeds in paddocks is important because they:
- Compete with grass for space, light, nutrients and water
- Are unpalatable to your horse or pony
- Can be poisonous, e.g. ragwort or buttercup
- Take over the paddock and if left unchecked limit ability to graze
- Can spread to neighbouring properties
- Make pastures look messy, untidy and unkept
What are the best options for controlling weeds in paddocks?
There are several control options. These include:
- Dig them out - OK for small numbers
- Cut them down - temporary effect as perennial weeds will grow back
- Use a herbicide – via a knapsack or boom sprayer (ATV or tractor)
Herbicide choices
Much will depend on how many weeds are present. Knapsack control works out more cost effective if weed populations are below 5% (count number of docks or thistles in a 5m x 7m area – this number gives the % weed population).
Choose a product that will deliver a:
- High level of safety so grass growth is unaffected
- Short grazing interval so animals can return back to paddocks quickly
Envy™ and Grazon®Pro meet these requirements.