Content
- Successfully combat poisonous ragwort
- Mow larger areas twice a year
- Ripping and cutting out
- Chemical and biological control
- Other methods
- Tips
Larger areas of ragwort can be easily mowed
Successfully combat poisonous ragwort
The Greiskraut or ragweed (Senecio) is a highly poisonous plant genus of the daisy family. Known and dreaded representatives are mainly the ragwort and the common ragwort. The pretty looking plants are very dangerous for both humans and animals and should therefore be effectively combated. However, this is difficult because the plants can be seeded over aerial seeds over long distances. For example, the narrow-leaved Greiskraut grows mainly along highways and railway lines, as its seeds are spread by the same means of transport.
Early article Detecting dangerous ragwortMow larger areas twice a year
Basically, old-growth herbs are easy to remove even in small amounts or to prevent them from sowing - otherwise the very vigorous plants spread very quickly over large areas. Once this is done, the infested area should no longer be used as pasture or hay and mowed at least twice a year - preferably right before flowering. However, this method is very lengthy and therefore to combine with others. The muck should be removed and best burned, as the flowers can become ripe and still be able to sown.
Ripping and cutting out
With single or few copies it makes sense to excavate or puncture them over a large area. The best way to do this is to use a digger fork that is guided as far as possible. Cross-herbs often form a deep-reaching taproot, and all root components should be removed as the plant can drive out even the tiniest parts. For the same reason, dug out cross-pollinated herbs do not belong to the compost, but should be burned or disposed of in organic waste.
Chemical and biological control
In the private sector, a large-scale chemical control of the ragweed is difficult, as it must have a permit - which, however, only agricultural farms is granted. It is therefore not possible to treat herbicides effective against cross-crops. A biological control through the use of carmine or blood bear caterpillars (Tyria jacobea) also shows only minor success.
Other methods
Instead of relying on chemistry, you can cover the infested area with a weed fleece for several months after the mowing and thus kill the remaining parts of the plant. This method is very effective for larger areas, but has a serious disadvantage: Any other fouling is killed.
Tips
Before you start fighting the ragweed, first make a specific determination. For example, the St. John's wort, a medicinal plant, is very similar to the ragwort.