Paddock weed control

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.