Daydream thread continues.....

rhiwfield

I read once that creeping buttercups were bad for the chooks, dont know if its true.

And on our well drained soil the creeping buttercups are thriving! So land drains might not work.

So thats one of the problems to tackle next week using an old dpm to smother them where they've got into the permanent beds

Rummer

rozeepozee wrote: »

Hi guys, we've nearly completed the move....

We've now realised we have a gorgeous 3 and 1/2 acre field of creeping buttercup.... It is awash. It looks very pretty. I know it's a problem, though but it's not life and death so I have to smile or I would be stressed!

Any bright ideas about what to do with it. I really don't want to spray and there's no need as we don't need the field...

Garden Organic suggests geese and hens like to eat the leaves and seeds respectively which is handy as that was about the extent of the livestock we wanted to get into at the moment. But I have to wonder, "How many geese and chickens do you need to control a 3 and 1/2 acre field of the stuff??!?"

Hope you are all looking forward to the long break. School holidays are not a break for us

I hate them :mad: our whole garden is covered in them (much smaller than 3 and 1/2 acres) and I have had to dig them out by hand and using my new gadget but there are hundreds of them!

lostinrates

Rummer wrote: »

I hate them :mad: our whole garden is covered in them (much smaller than 3 and 1/2 acres) and I have had to dig them out by hand and using my new gadget but there are hundreds of them!

Do you find it good for them? I just go at them with a spade, fork or even just a trowel, and docks with the spade. Leave indentations, but they can be filled.

Itismehonest

I think the weeders are probably most effective on the type of weeds which have more individual root systems. Anything with more extensive roots - like creeping buttercup - is more of a problem for them.

If the spread is on dry ground it could be self-seeding so trying to keep too many flowers from achieving maturity may limit it a little. A pain in the butt to keep deheading them, though.
Other than chemicals, physically dragging them out or deep-ploughing-burial I've never heard of a way of successfully getting on top of the stuff.

Forgot the weather update......
Currently mizzle & temperature dropping. It's obviously approaching a Bank Holiday

rozeepozee

lostinrates wrote: »

Yep....depnds what bettercup you have. And honestly, i don't know how it impacts on birds. In grazing animals you have issues of decreased fertility, liver damage and in some types photosensitivity and skin irritarion.

Its one of those things that farmers often ignore but is a dripping tap of loss of profit, so the committed small holder is imo, financially wrong too. To say nothing of the ethics. Hmm. We have some patches of buttercup too .....;) if its wide spread well....i dunno.

All i can say is i have decided postpone organics and spray too get everything under control now.

I just worry about spraying loads of noxious chemicals so near to the house, a water course, my beautiful children....! Maybe I'm being hopelessly impractical, but I do like weeding

I did immediately think of Rummer and her loathing of them when I saw them all in bloom this week.

alfie_1

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

WOW alfie...... she is amazing.....do you think she could calm 2 teenage boys to be nice and polite, and do what they are told too:rotfl:

loved the way Ruby was nibbling her ear:D

was trying to get peas for sowing yesturday, seems all the local shops had sold out, so will have to go to b&q to see if they have any there, if not will have to order on-line

I got bitten by midges/knats on the weekend, and they are still flipping itching, been using sudcreme but not working, I dont normally suffer, or get bitten that much, but they seemed to like me up the new place... any ideas on what i can use to sooth/take away the itch? Got one right on one of my toes....

YES YES YES..... ive found the perfect "stuff"

its called LILY OF THE DESERT 99% ALOE VERA GELLY distributed in uk by WISDOM OF NATURE LTD.
i got it from my local herbal/health shop [not cheap ...was £6 ,i paid £3 in sale.]
i get a bad reaction to bites and this is the 1st time ive had a "cure"...the itch/annoyance goes instantly...:D

lucielle

I was told that butteercups like acid soil, so spreading lime might help.

CTC, try having a bath with some bicarbonate of soda in , it helps to take the itch out, also good for chicken pox.HTH
L

alfie_1

LIR....yr PM box is full................AGAIN !! :rotfl::rotfl:

im in but not in...im about to put all animogs to bed/feed etc, back in 20 mins. do you have my landline ???

Rummer

lostinrates wrote: »

Do you find it good for them? I just go at them with a spade, fork or even just a trowel, and docks with the spade. Leave indentations, but they can be filled.

My Fiskars gadget rips them out by the roots which gives me great satisfaction as I fill bucket after bucket with them

Itismehonest

Rummer wrote: »

My Fiskars gadget rips them out by the roots which gives me great satisfaction as I fill bucket after bucket with them

Really? :cool:
The roots can be a couple of feet long!