Bracken remioval
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 9:52 am
The below was recently posted through the Moor Meadows email exchange & I thought might be of interest to the Forum members:
"We have had a long term problem with bracken on some 20 acres of species rich pasture and annual cutting in July with a flail or topper is the only practical solution. It needs to be cut before it starts to transfer and accumulate food reserves in its extensive root system.
It will take 10 years or so of regular yearly cutting to weaken the bracken sufficiently that its not a liability, but there is usually some remaining which will need cutting every 2-3 years to prevent it re-establishing.
As for mulching, all the nutrients in the bracken will be broken down and become available to encourage the new growth of the bracken. Likewise, if its burned, all the phosphate and potash in the ashes will fertilise the recovering root system and stimulate new growth.
"We have had a long term problem with bracken on some 20 acres of species rich pasture and annual cutting in July with a flail or topper is the only practical solution. It needs to be cut before it starts to transfer and accumulate food reserves in its extensive root system.
It will take 10 years or so of regular yearly cutting to weaken the bracken sufficiently that its not a liability, but there is usually some remaining which will need cutting every 2-3 years to prevent it re-establishing.
As for mulching, all the nutrients in the bracken will be broken down and become available to encourage the new growth of the bracken. Likewise, if its burned, all the phosphate and potash in the ashes will fertilise the recovering root system and stimulate new growth.