Stop chickweed smothering new sown leys

UK - March 20, 2009

Over-wintered chickweed is smothering autumn-sown leys across the UK this spring. While young grasses remain dormant due to low soil temperature, both common and mouse-eared chickweed are actively growing - taking advantage of ‘gappy’ swards and lack of competition for light and nutrients. As much as two thirds of new leys could be infested.

“I am currently taking several calls a day from farmers asking how to control chickweed in new reseeds, particularly as the treatment options have been reduced – CMPP has lost  its recommendation for use on grassland, and Forefront and Pharaoh have been suspended,” says Dow AgroSciences’ grassland specialist Duncan Connabeer.

“Pastor applied at 2l/ha, and Doxstar applied at 1.5l/ha, will control both types of chickweed. They are reliable when used in cool, early spring conditions and neither will check the growth of immature grass plants.

“My advice is to treat now, before chickweed completely takes over bare ground in between the rows, and takes an unfair share of any early applied nitrogen fertiliser.

“Where clover is present in the sward – farmers will have the weigh up the benefits of getting rid of chickweed over killing-out the clover. Where swards are treated, new clover seed can be stitched in later.”