Getting rid of docks

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Getting rid of docks

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Mardu

Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 67

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 5:26 pm Post subject: Getting rid of docks
Does anyone know how to get rid of docks in a pasture apart from spraying? (Paddington Bear is unable to access this forum at present for technical reasons which he does not understand)

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 5:28 pm Post subject:
He's probably got marmalade on the keyboard. In answer to your question, no not really. Ferocious and persistent digging helps a bit. But they're buggers basically.

Mardu

Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 67

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 5:59 pm Post subject: Getting rid of docks
So if we didn't buy the land we wouldn't have a problem?

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Getting rid of docks

Paddington Bear's OH wrote:

So if we didn't buy the land we wouldn't have a problem?

No....but you wouldn't have any land either.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 8:18 pm Post subject:
The only thing I can think of is pulling steadily when the soil is very wet. You could try one of those special dandelion forks with a narrow fork to lift as much root out as possible. What animals eat docks?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 8:37 pm Post subject:
I have heard of people cutting them and putting parafin on the stumps, or using those weed flame throwers (NOT together!) But obviously it depends where they are. What about folding a goat or pigs on the land - surely nothign would survive a goat!?

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 8:39 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

What about folding a goat

Isn't that cruel?

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri May 20, 05 9:34 pm Post subject:
You could try a great gadget called a Ragfork, designed to easily get ragwort out by the roots. It works well on docks too, although it's best to do it while the ground is still a bit soft. www.ragfork.co.uk.

Mardu

Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 67

Posted: Sat May 21, 05 10:12 am Post subject: Getting rid of docks

One method suggested to us was to spray the docks with Cornish seaweed, dunno what's special about Cornwall, but apparently this makes it sweet for horses who normaly would avoid docks. We haven't got horses at the moment and the land covers ten acres with only post and rail fences so extra fencing would be needed for goats. It's an idea though as Paddington said there is no way he is getting his paws dirty puling them all up by hand!

(PB can still not not log on as himself but he can as PB OH)?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat May 21, 05 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Getting rid of docks

Paddington Bear's OH wrote:

(PB can still not not log on as himself but he can as PB OH)?

I'll ask Jema to take a look. If PB knows his password it could be a cookie problem.

If you ever have a rabbit problem in your field I know someone who could help.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28246
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat May 21, 05 10:30 am Post subject:
Can you telll me what it says when you try and login?

Mardu

Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 67

Posted: Sat May 21, 05 11:05 am Post subject: Getting rid of docks
Hi Jema, PB gets "You have specified an incorrect or inactive username, or an invalid password." when he tries to log on. We use the same PC but I have no problems (she said smugly)

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 8:21 am Post subject:

Pigs would certainly root up the docks, but I see from another post of yours that there is a question mark over whether you will be able to keep pigs.
My meat chickens love docks, and really give them a hard time, but 10 acres worth is a lot of chickens!
Keeping the grass short is probably your best bet - you would be weakening the plants, they wouldn't have a chance to seed and whatever animals you keep on the land would be more inclined to nibble the fresh young shoots. And by keeping it short, you would also be encouraging the grass to grow at the expense of the other weeds.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 9:05 am Post subject:
I'm going to be controversial... The amount of energy you expend trying to get rid of the dock by non-chemical means may be greater than the total energy expenditure (manufacture included) if you spray once, maybe twice, with glyphosate. If there's no problem with water courses, I'd consider it as the ethical, environmentally sound option.

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