Since ragweed is highly toxic to horses and cattle and poisoning cannot be treated to this day, it is essential to combat the herb on pastures. There are three suitable measures to take targeted action against the herb and thus successfully prevent further spread.
In the case of mechanical control, the ragwort must be removed together with the root
biological control
Since ragwort provides more than 120 insects and bees with food, you should preferably fight the poisonous plant with biological or mechanical measures. Ragwort's natural predators include rabbits, which like to eat the herb's roots. Unfortunately, the number of rabbits living in the wild has decreased significantly in recent years. It is certainly also due to the fact that the ragwort was able to multiply so extremely.
Biological control agents include
- Beetle
- moth caterpillars
- To fly
The ragwort caterpillar feeds exclusively on the leaves and young stems of the plant. The caterpillars can damage it so badly that it dies.
Since it is relatively difficult to use the beneficial insects in a targeted manner, biological control measures are currently not very promising.
Mechanical combat
Wherever ragwort spreads in small quantities, you can combat the plant successfully and in an environmentally friendly manner with mechanical measures.
Ragwort forms a deep-reaching taproot with numerous fine lateral roots. If the root is not completely removed, a new plant can develop from the remaining root. That's why it's important to dig up ragwort with the whole root. Although the toxins do not penetrate the body through the skin, it is advisable to wear gloves when doing this work.
Digging up the root is easy after a heavy rain shower. Cut out the root with the fork and dispose of it in the household waste. Ragwort can also be disposed of in organic waste. As the Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia and the "Arbeitskreis Kreuzkraut e.V." have determined, no toxic alkaloids can be detected after composting.
Mowing is not suitable for control
The more frequently you mow the ragwort, the more persistent it is. Within a very short time it puts out new stems, flowers quickly and forms countless seeds.
Chemical control
In the case of severe infestation of pastures, it is often essential to combat ragwort with chemical agents. Before the treatment with Simplex spray, the rosettes should have reached a growth height of about 15 centimetres.
In order to have a good effect, the funds must be used when the ragwort is growing strongly. Humid and not too warm weather is ideal for combating. The plants destroyed by the herbicide must then be completely removed and destroyed.
Attention: When using Simplex spraying agent, special instructions must be observed. In addition, according to the Spray Agents Ordinance, the application is the responsibility of a trained group of people.
tips
The excavated Ragwort is able to continue producing seeds. Therefore, keep the plants in tightly sealed bags until they are destroyed or composted.