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Weed killer safe for use around livestock

itsueyitsuey Posts: 42
in Problem solving
I have a gravel driveway which had a few weeds when I moved in but apparently it was summer in the week I went away (to somewhere less sunny, thanks weather!), and now I have several foot high "weeds" threatening to swallow half the driveway. I've tried pulling them up and while I can remove some down to the roots, some of them are those awkward ones that snap at the bottom of the stem and you have to dig them out.

I am already reluctant to use weed killer for anything, but I have the additional issue of having a completely open link fence between my driveway and a field of cows and sheep who sometimes come and nibble the nettles growing on my side. I did find a really fabulous looking product called foamstream but unfortunately it has to be used with a machine that I don't have and can't afford. Does anyone know of anything that's going to kill the weeds, preferably with some degree of precision because there are some flowers I'd like to leave for the bees, and be harmless for the livestock and wildlife?
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Posts

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    You need fresh young growth for most weedkillers to work, so pulling them or strimming them is a good start. You can use types that you paint on to the young leaves as they emerge if the numbers aren't completely overwhelming. I'd suggest either a temporary barrier to prevent the neighbours eating it for the couple of weeks it'll take to work, or you stop short of the fence and deal with those by hoeing/digging rather than weedkiller.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Glyphosate is safe for animals once it's dried.
    It is sprayed onto cereal crops to make them ready for harvest.
    Best used when the weeds have plenty of leaves on them for it to be absorbed.
    After 2-3 weeks max they should turn brown meaning the whole plant is dead

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • itsueyitsuey Posts: 42
    I'll grab some glyphosate for the ones I can't pull up. I decided on leaving a strip of weed down the side of the driveway next to the fence because there's some lovely pink and yellow flowers in there that seem to be attracting butterflies, which I've not seen many of since I moved to Scotland, hopefully the landlord won't mind too much.
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    Glyphosate or a weed burner.
    I have a similar issue so asked the farmers advice, he said crack on and spray it around, i'm not bothered. So I did and wiped out his whole herd everything is fine.
  • mac12mac12 Posts: 209
    Could you please tell us what the cows have been force fed and what steroids they are pumped full of 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Goodness! I find that remark really offensive as well as ill-informed. Most British farmers observe the highest standards of animal welfare and our food standards are high, too. This forum is not the place to air such views.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think this is yet another WUM. One that doesn't know how to use the quote function properly  ;)
    Best reported by using the flag option. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Apart form being stupid and offensive that post is just ignorant.  The very fact they are out to grass means they are not being force fed or pumped full of anything except fresh grass and wildflowers. 

    Grass fed beef is top quality, if you like beef.  Grass fed dairy cows make better milk and it affects the flavour of any cheese depending on the season.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Think it's a WUM who only knows about US intensive beef-lot rearing practices and thinks he knows it all ... there's a lot of ignorance about. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    What's a WUM?
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