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Bracken - piles of and removal without pesticide use.

SalopianSalopian Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Any suggestions as to what to do with some large piles of dead bracken please. I have heard that it is sometimes composted by certain wildlife organisations however I do not have the space to accommodate it for that use at the moment and it is far too much to take to my local recycling centre. Has anyone here successfully managed to eradicate the remaining rhizomes without the use of pesticides?
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you have a council recycling scheme? If so, just put it in there. You can then dig up the bases. They're very tough, so it's best to get them really well soaked to make it easier. Then get some muscle power, and a sturdy spade. 
    If it's a large area, it's much easier to use a good weedkiller, or even the brushwood one. It'll be a big task otherwise. It can survive almost anything.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    The RHS advise that it's okay to compost, so as @Fairygirl says you can put it in your council green waste recycling which will get rid of it over time. 
    Some  more information here which may be of help 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=445

  • SalopianSalopian Posts: 7
    Thank you for the helpful advice. The land is approx. 1 acre and almost half of it is covered so, sadly, it looks like I may have to resort to some sort of pesticide unless rotavating or similar will help.  
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @Salopian,

    On the RHS Bridgewater programme they were using pigs to clear ground for an orchard.
    I don't know if pigs would snout out bracken roots .... but might be worth looking into?

    Bee x
     image
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • SalopianSalopian Posts: 7
    Thank you. Sounds like something to look into. A thread I read on the British Farming Forum suggested cows to trample the rhizomes however a. My fencing isn’t great (fully stock proof) at the moment and b. I’m concerned they’ll trample absolutely everything unless I set up good, temporary, fences. In my experience pigs are more manageable however. 
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 175
    It won't eradicate it but one treatment is to regularly bruise the stems by rolling or similar. This weakens the plants over time. I have seen horse drawn rollers treating bracken in conservation areas to some effect. Walking around with a stick bashing them works too but I suspect an acre is too big for that. If you resort to chemicals then if you can buy it Asulox is the one you need. It's still a pesticide but targets only bracken.
  • SalopianSalopian Posts: 7
    Thank you Pete, I have heard about the horse-drawn rollers. I have one of the old heavy (human) Victorian ones but as the land is on quite a slope it’s unfortunately not an option at the moment. Bashing does sound like a good idea however. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Many UK woodlands use pigs to manage and clear bracken on land. https://www.lowimpact.org/using-pigs-for-woodland-conservation/

  • SalopianSalopian Posts: 7
    Thank you. There is a rescue charity farm down the lane from  me who may have pigs who would like an outing. I’ll definitely look into your suggestion. I’m not set up to house them myself at the moment. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Some woodlands and farms borrow them to work the bracken for a while.
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