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Post by Ron on Jul 3, 2009 17:55:34 GMT
We have a problem with the weed 'mares tail' on our allotments. I know the roots go very deep. Weed killer has been applied over the last 4 years and it has reduced a lot, but it is still there.
I had my plot ploughed before digging it. How deep do ploughs turn over the soil on average? I'm wondering if the deeper roots will have been brought to the surface, and if forking them out will possibly now eradicate it.
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 5, 2009 23:27:51 GMT
Not sure about how deep a plough goes RM, guess it depends on the size of the actual bits that go into the ground. There must be a name for them but I can't think of it right now, bet FB will know.
I would say that any root that is taken out at any time will help towards eradicating them. Not sure but I reckon Dutchy had/has problems with marestail.
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Post by Barbara on Jul 6, 2009 9:24:52 GMT
HI Rony, I had mares tail infestation when we bought this house, only in the front garden though, I just dug and dug and ... you get the picture,  any way I still have some come up, I just pull the blighters up, and leave them to die off on the path I don't compost them. I believe they are the oldest plant still around from dinousaur times, and the roots can be seen in coal mines,  thats how deep they can grow. |
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Post by Spruance on Jul 6, 2009 10:00:38 GMT
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Post by Ron on Jul 7, 2009 9:45:05 GMT
I've been forking them up so far, which seems to be keeping on top of them. I was hopeful that the ploughing might have brought the deep roots to the surface, but I think mining the plot would upset the allotment committee! Thanks everyone for the feedback.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2009 6:52:46 GMT
Having seen this done I would guess around a foot deep for standard ploughing although I believe it is possible to go deeper if necessary. Normal depth's are 7 to 8 inches, horse ploughing (for wheat) used to be 5 inches. The average farm tractor in the 1960's (Fordson Major or International W6) would pull a 3 furrow plough. On our clay land I have seen an International TD14 (24 inch wide tracks) getting 'track spin' when pulling a six furrow plough. |
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Post by carolann on Jul 8, 2009 14:51:01 GMT
So sorry to hear about the Mares tail Rony, I have some that keeps coming up in one of my beds but I just dig down as far as I can then pull it up, this year thought its been a nightmare trying to keep on top of it and it seems to be spreading to another bed near by. I hope you find a way of controling it then you can share it with us.
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Post by Spruance on Jul 9, 2009 11:15:48 GMT
Thanks for the clarification on the ploughing depth Larkshall. I'm not a farmer but have seen ploughing in progress on neighbouring fields so obviously my estimates are a bit out (should have gone to Specsavers etc.  ). Having looked into the marestails problem a little further it seems that glyphosate is the favourite treatment at the moment, either on its own or as a constituent part of Roundup. Otherwise it seems that repeated hoeing to a depth of three inches is better than deep digging as the former denies the roots any sustinence whilst the latter spreads the rhizomes. |
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Post by andy on Jul 9, 2009 12:23:47 GMT
I would spot treat it with a very strong roundup (or any glyphosate) mix...even 50/50 water/roundup. Ive used roundup at that strength for stump killing a large salix and it worked a treat.
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Post by Ron on Jul 23, 2009 9:05:41 GMT
Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm never going to get rid of it completely though; I've noticed that there's huge bunches of it growing in the hedge all along the road up to the allotment.
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any way I still have some come up, I just pull the blighters up, and leave them to die off on the path I don't compost them. 
thats how deep they can grow. 
