Pasture Spraying
Pasture spraying is an integral part of paddock maintenance. Weeds will appear at some stage in paddocks and grassland but with by spraying selective herbicides can be eradicated. Plants such as docks, thistles, Ragwort, fat hen, buttercups, daisy, dandelion, speedwell, bristly ox-tongue and nettles can start to grow in the best-maintained paddock and pasture. For more information on identifying weeds, please download our free guide.
Modern tractors fitted with a modern boom sprayer can spray areas where it is too small impractical to treat the area by hand or with a quad bike. Pasture spraying manually with a backpack sprayer can be tedious and will not always give the required results. Certain herbicides manufacturers, such as Corteva, do not allow spraying with any handheld device for many of their products.
Timing of Herbicide Spraying for Grassland
Spraying herbicides should be carried out from the beginning of March until the end of October. The best results occur when weeds are growing actively. Selective herbicides will not kill grass but may destroy or damage clover. Some manufacturers recommend specific times and certain sizes of plants to get the best results.
Exclusion Period After Pasture and Paddock Spraying
Animals should remain off and away from treated for a period specified by the manufacturer. Typically the exclusion period is seven to fourteen days from the date of spraying before any livestock be returned to grazing pasture.
Ragwort can be deadly to livestock and horses in particular. Selective herbicides, such as Headland Polo, will kill Ragwort. However, horses mustn’t be returned to pasture until the Ragwort has been eliminated and preferably removed.
Qualifications for Pasture Spraying
We are fully trained and insured in all types of paddock and pasture spraying and hold the City and Guilds Part 1 & 2 accreditation for application of herbicides and pesticides with tractor mounted boom sprayer. Nowadays it is illegal to spray any professional herbicide or pesticide without these qualifications.
Health and Safety for Pasture Spaying Services
We take herbicide and pesticide spraying in paddocks and pasture very seriously and always take into consideration all health and safety aspects before we start any job. These will include operator safety, people in the surrounding areas, wildlife, aquatic life. Wind speed temperature and other weather conditions should be taken into consideration when applying herbicides and pesticides.
Contact us.
Email: ctagricultural@gmail.com
Phone: 07721777756