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Treating sapling stumps


Guest Gimlet
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Guest Gimlet

I've got some scrub clearance to do on some SSSI chalk grassland. Eventually it will be sheep grazed but initially I have to get rid of masses of small saplings, mostly hawthorn with some hazel and ash. They will be cut off close to the ground and either chipped or burned but the stumps will have to be treated to prevent regrowth. Most are only two to three feet high and little bigger than thumb size. 

 

What's the best herbicide (and application method, bearing in mind how many there are). I want to avoid glyphosate if possible.

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Let the sheep eat them! If the animals are fenced in for a while to preserve a high-ish stocking rate they'll see those saplings off won't they?

That was my initial thoughts, they’ll very happily eat all in sight but you’ll still probably get regrowth.
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Guest Gimlet

The sheep haven't made any impression on them yet. There are literally thousands and the ground being SSSI and classified as calcareous wildflower meadow Natural England are very restrictive on stock density and duration of grazing which is why the sheep are having little impact.

Typical Natural England, they're very good at telling you exactly what you must end up with together with a long list of things you're not allowed to do to get there and very little else in between. With all the restrictions there's no option but to get rid of the saplings and start with a clean sheet.

 

They have specified spot treatment for stumps and cut bramble bases and spraying only for widespread injurious weeds like docks and bracken. 

 

Why not Glyphosate? Because every man and his dog keeps telling me I should stop using it and I wondered if there's a better alternative.

 

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I sprayed everything with glyphosate when i bought my pad in late 2012, by time i had battered all work in house, moved out of caravan and in to house 10 months later, it had basically done its job and rid of everything giving me a clean slate.

Didnt know what SSSI was till Edward C and yourself explained.

All governing bodies are bloody hard work and make things chuffing hard work to sort out things that could be relatively quicker and easier! [emoji849][emoji849]

 

 

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3 hours ago, Ratman said:


That was my initial thoughts, they’ll very happily eat all in sight but you’ll still probably get regrowth.

The bunnies would deal with that but the point's academic now due to the SSSI rules on stocking.

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