Invasive or problem species
These include species such as; docks, ragwort, thistles, and creeping buttercup.
Consider:
- Ragwort can be controlled by hand, wearing gloves and pulling it up before flowering. Carefully dispose of it as it is more likely to be eaten by horses when it is dead/dry.
- Docks will soon take hold in poached or bare ground. See advice about poaching.
- Nettles contain minerals and are more likely to be eaten by horses when they are dry but do them no harm. They are valuable to butterflies so some patches of nettles can be beneficial.
- Creeping buttercup can become invasive on overgrazed, compacted and especially damp ground. It is toxic to horses but as it is bitter they generally won’t eat it.
Suggestions:
- Docks, ragwort and creeping buttercup tend to be indicative of management problems such as overgrazing, soil imbalance and poaching. See previous guidance and in addition:
- Reduce numbers of horses to ensure land is not over-grazed. As a rough guide, 5cm is the minimum height for grass to avoid damage. This will allow other species to outcompete plants that are becoming invasive.
- Alter the timing of grazing.
- Pull ragwort and thistles by hand, wearing gloves. Doing so after rain can make it easier and before flowering to prevent seeds setting.
- All problem species, but docks in particular, will become established where seed falls on bare ground so maintaining good ground cover with characteristic grassland species will help to limit their spread and establishment.
- Nettles can be cut or topped to reduce their vigour.
- Avoid compaction resulting from overgrazing and rolling, as this often favours invasive, or problem species.
- Enhance diversity by encouraging a characteristic (i.e. suitable for local soils), mixed species sward which will help with ground cover.
- Small patches of creeping buttercup can be pulled by hand, harrowing can help to pull out larger patches.
- Allow problem areas or whole fields to grow and set seed each season, or sprinkling appropriate seed on bare patches in order to outcompete buttercup.