Ragwort

[Gorsty]

Hi folks

Am attemting to create a wildflower meadow so have left part of the lawn unmown this year. Have been methodically removing docks & ragwort by hand (wearing gloves!) & replanting these areas with home grown wild flowers. Read somewhere recently that you can actually encourage the growth of ragwort by trying to pull it up - you should spray to be sure! Have been using a hand trowel/fork & lifting as much out as I can but do you think I'm on a loser???

Does anyone have any experience in getting rid of ragwort?

[shirlthegirl43]

I have never heard that one. Horse owners religiously pull up ragwort all summer long (you can buy a special rag-fork to help) and I don't think we would bother if it was encouraging the blooming stuff

[Hilary B]

If there is nothing grazing the area, it can pay to use a 'touch weeder' of some kind on ragwort (sprayed or dying ragwort is even more appealing to grazers than fresh, and just as dangerous). SOME types of ragwort spring up (from seed) when there is even a tiny 'bare patch', and this CAN happen when it is pulled, but by no means always. Pulling is fine as long as you actually get the root out (it is all too easy to have it break off at ground level, and regrow).
Remember that the ragwort you can readily see is from last year's seeding. There may well be 'rosettes' inconspicuous in the grass waiting for next spring to grow. If you pull the plants too late in the growing season, you may shed seed onto the ground.
There are reasons why pulling MAY lead to further growth, but it depends on so many factors.

[Gorsty]

I have never heard that one. Horse owners religiously pull up ragwort all summer long (you can buy a special rag-fork to help) and I don't think we would bother if it was encouraging the blooming stuff

Phew thats what was really worrying me - I've been pulling ragwort from my pony's field for years - thought maybe I was to blame for its advance on the surrounding fields

[HayleyB]

I've done an hour's ragging today and not even touched the surface, it has driven me nuts over the years. Last year I block sprayed Roundup and still it's come back

[Botanist]

Hi folks

Am attemting to create a wildflower meadow so have left part of the lawn unmown this year. Have been methodically removing docks & ragwort by hand (wearing gloves!) & replanting these areas with home grown wild flowers. Read somewhere recently that you can actually encourage the growth of ragwort by trying to pull it up - you should spray to be sure! Have been using a hand trowel/fork & lifting as much out as I can but do you think I'm on a loser???

Does anyone have any experience in getting rid of ragwort?

Why on earth if you are creating a wildlife meadow are you removing such an ecologically valuable plant?

There is a lot of silly talk about ragwort. Yes it is poisonous but it certainly can't poison you by handling it.

Please see the following sites.
Ragwort - Is it as bad as you think?
Buglife | Ragwort | Ragwort: Yellow Peril or Precious Flower?
Ragwort, myths and facts
Ragwort the myths and the hoaxes debunked

[WrexTheDragon]

Ragwort should only be removed if horses and cattle will be grazing on the fields or if it is in the next field. You can pull it by hand when the flowers turn yellow before it seeds. Do not spray.

If you don't have any grazing animals near the plants, don't pull it.

It grows in a two year cycle. Year one are to rosettes and in year two the stem and seeds.

Over 100 insects rely on ragwort. The cinnamon moth being the most famous.

DEFRA/Natural England are looking into this native plant and how it is so good for wildlife.

[Botanist]

Ragwort should only be removed if horses and cattle will be grazing on the fields or if it is in the next field. You can pull it by hand when the flowers turn yellow before it seeds. Do not spray.

If you don't have any grazing animals near the plants, don't pull it.

Even then it is rather debatable. Poisoning, if you look at the evidence rather than scary media stories is not common at all.
Ragwort Horse Deaths - It doesn't really kill many horses

It grows in a two year cycle. Year one are to rosettes and in year two the stem and seeds.

Over 100 insects rely on ragwort. The cinnamon moth being the most famous.

DEFRA/Natural England are looking into this native plant and how it is so good for wildlife.

It isn't just the Cinnabar Moth or the insects that feed on it. It is also an important food source. If you look at the Buglife article they mention important habitats being damaged because of the over reaction to Ragwort.

[Scottishnewbie]

Does anyone know why there seems to be so much more of it than in previous years?

And why the BHS and the World Horse Welfare (to name but a few) seem to think it is so dangerous and why landowners are obliged to clear it from their lands?

[Gorsty]

[QUOTE=Botanist;485605]Why on earth if you are creating a wildlife meadow are you removing such an ecologically valuable plant?

There is a lot of silly talk about ragwort. Yes it is poisonous but it certainly can't poison you by handling it.

Hi

Decided to remove it cos (a) I have a pony & poultry which may/may not decide to eat it - f not in the green state, it could potentially get into hay if I decide to go that way and (b) there is plenty of ragwort in the vicinity to provide food for those that feed off it

I must confess to have pulled ragwort up by hand for years - before I read that it could potentially harm you. Am I already damaged I ask myself Sorry but after years of eradicating ragwort - I just can't bring myself to cultivate it.

Will have a look at the links you suggest though - am always open to new ideas (after years of brainwashing maybe??)

[Botanist]

I don't think anyone is asking for people never to control the plant.
Of course it needs controlling sometimes. It is just that people are panicking with no need. You can't be poisoned by touching it. That is an Urban Myth.
And the risk to animals is really very much over played

See:-

Ragwort poisoning humans an urban myth

[jondanie]

Land owners are required to control Ragwort as set out in the 2003 Ragwort Control Act. Failure to do so could rsult in an order to do so or prosecution.

The biggest danger from ragwort is when it gets harvested and is made into silage where the animal eating the resulting silage can't distinguish it. Grazing animals are relatively safe

[Botanist]

Land owners are required to control Ragwort as set out in the 2003 Ragwort Control Act. Failure to do so could rsult in an order to do so or prosecution.

The ragwort control Act does not place obligations on landowners
You cannot be prosecuted under this act.
It merely sets up a code of practice.
There is no automatic requirement to control ragwort by law in the UK.
Indeed the code of practice ( which is a GUIDE not law) actually says landowners shouldn't always remove ragwort.

Ragwort Control Act 2003

You are correct to say that in extreme circumstances you can be ordered to control it. Rather like in extreme circumstances kids can be curfewed off the streets at night. No offence is committed unless an order is made and then breached.

The biggest danger from ragwort is when it gets harvested and is made into silage where the animal eating the resulting silage can't distinguish it. Grazing animals are relatively safe

That is correct and poisoning isn't common.