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Rotavating

Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205
in Wildlife gardening
Hi all, Does anyone have experience of using a rotavator to remove weeds and roots? I'm considering it as I'm having the damnedest time trying to get rid of hogwort and cow parley in our school wildlife garden.
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  • DaintinessDaintiness Posts: 980

    Usually rotovators can just break up the roots and make the whole thing worse. I would cut down the unwanted growth and then get some old carpet and cover the part of the area you want to clear. You say wildlife garden - the wildlife will love the cow parsley and the hogwort.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,800

    Any  good wild flower mix of seeds you get will surely have those in it - wonderful for pollinating insects.  Pull a few out maybe, but leave some - they're gorgeous. image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,996

    hogweed is a thug. Its leaves are so huge they swamp everything.

    So huge they absorb a whole lot of glyphosate. If you did it on a Friday after school there's be no worries about poisoning kids. It would be thoroughly dry by next school day



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,800

    And yet people pay good money for Angelica gigas image

    It all depends on how much space you have. 

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,996

     

    It's interesting what we like and don't. 
    I like cow parsley, beautiful plant. but there's something about hogweed that's ugly to my eye.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,800

    I think it can look absolutely fantastic image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,996

    I can let you have some Doveimage

    Will a couple of hundred be enough? 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,800

    You're very kind, but as I said, 'It all depends on how much space you have' 

    We don't have enough image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,996

    image



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205
    Would the glyphosphate be detrimental to the wildlife?
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