Bracken Spraying

[gerarddwatts]

OK, now that PDG have packed up, any ideas for bracken spraying in Scotland?

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I thought the best way to get rid of bracken was to roll it, not break or spray it.
Can't remember where I heard that.

 

[jall55]

Spray it
I used Asulox a few years ago - beats rolling/chopping/pulling - believe me !

 

[rms364]

Think it’s possible to use glyphosate with a weed wiper if conditions allow or higher a helicopter

 

[jall55]

Think it’s possible to use glyphosate with a weed wiper if conditions allow or higher a helicopter

It is but obviously that kills everything else too
You also tend to find the bracken returns the nest year as the rhizome is not killed
Asulox attacks it - although you will see nothing this year - the bracken simply does not grow the year after !

 

[gerarddwatts]

All true, but the helicopter operator that did most/all(as far as I know), PDG, have packed up bracken spraying. Who else is there?

 

[lochty]

I thought that asulox had been banned? If not, spaying with a fogging unit in an Argo might be an option. 'Kin dangerous though. Or a bracken roller behind a quad?

 

[gerarddwatts]

Asulam gets a 120 day temporary 'pass' every year, but has to be applied by helicopter, and can only be applied manually under certain circumstanes. I need a helicopter company now than PDG have given up!

 

[Craigsaun]

Round up or rodio in the weed wiper pull it with the quod but it might leave wheel marks

 

[gerarddwatts]

....and a bare hill!

By complete coincidence just chatting to a mate who tells me of a firm from Mull.....watch this space!

 

[shbangsteve]

Bizarrely, you can only apply Asulox from the air. Very difficult to kill with anything else that doesn't kill grass. I asked my agronomist.

 

[slider]

It is but obviously that kills everything else too
You also tend to find the bracken returns the nest year as the rhizome is not killed
Asulox attacks it - although you will see nothing this year - the bracken simply does not grow the year after !

Gyphospate is fine in a weed wiper, I have had some good results. normally requires a second treatment teh next year to hit anything that has been "shadowed" in the first pass. Stuff I treated 15+ years ago is still relatively sparse.

 

[slider]

of course none of this helps the OP find another Helicopter sprayer now that PDG are gone, and often terrain dictates that a weedwiper is not an option.

I believe Asulox was banned too but has been given a year to year derogation

 

[gerarddwatts]

of course none of this helps the OP find another Helicopter sprayer now that PDG are gone, and often terrain dictates that a weedwiper is not an option.

I believe Asulox was banned too but has been given a year to year derogation

Phew! Thats it!

 

[10.9]

We used airagri last year to spray , seemed to work ok . They were using a slightly smaller helicopter than PDG , may be worth looking them up . Do SNH not have a list of approved contractors ?

 

[gerarddwatts]

Thanks....that's exactly who I found via my mate this am. Game on!