The dangers of ragwort

Removal of ragwort

It’s strongly advised that gloves are worn when handling ragwort as the toxins may be harmful to humans^1,2 and minimise the risks of exposure to pollen by wearing a facemask.

In its first year, ragwort grows in the rosette form and in the second year as a plant. In certain conditions, ragwort seeds can lie dormant within the ground for many years. This means removal methods may have to be used annually until the weed is brought under control. A combination of different removal methods may be needed, along with good pasture management.

Herbicide treatment

Animals must be moved to alternative grazing before the herbicide is applied to the land
A risk assessment must be completed
Some products require a qualified specialist to carry out the application. Details are available from the National Association of Agricultural Contractors.
The herbicide should be applied when rosette growth is seen in spring. It’s unlikely that herbicide will be effective if used on the plant stage of growth
Apply the herbicide on a mild, calm day, making sure the vegetation is dry, and that rain isn’t expected for at least a few hours
It’s only safe to return horses once all the ragwort has fully disintegrated. This can take a few weeks, so follow the product-specific guidelines carefully. Remember that dead ragwort is still toxic and palatable, so all plant material should be removed after spraying.

Mowing/cutting

Not advised, as cutting stimulates growth
Unlikely to have any impact on controlling the spread of ragwort
Remove ragwort from land before topping fields as this can promote the spreading of seeds.

Improve pasture management

Ragwort thrives on poor quality pasture
Rosettes left alone will compete with surrounding plants
Improving the pasture quality will help reduce the opportunity for ragwort to grow and spread.

Hand pulling

Appropriate for smaller areas of land
Make sure the whole of the root is removed, as any fragments of the root left within the soil will result in the ragwort regrowing
Best results are achieved when the soil is damp
Ragwort-specific tools are available to help with successful root removal.

Watch

Disposal of ragwort

An important part of ragwort control is the safe and effective disposal of the plant to help reduce the risk of further spread. It’s vital to make sure horses can’t access wilted or dead plants as these are more palatable and just as toxic.

What affects your disposal options?

The amount of ragwort to be disposed of
Facilities available on-site
Local resources available.

Realistically, not all options are feasible for equestrian properties, so this guide highlights the most common methods:

Consider how you’ll dispose of ragwort at the same time as planning a control system
Where possible, use on-site disposal
If there’s any risk of seeds being dispersed, the flower heads can be cut off and placed in sealed bags.

Do not…

Bury ragwort in manure heaps
Use ragwort as animal bedding
Dig, bury or plough ragwort into the ground
Attempt to dry ragwort where animals could access it
Allow seed dispersal from plants awaiting disposal
Transport ragwort unnecessarily
Transport ragwort unless it’s in sealed bags or containers.

Domestic refuse collections are for domestic premises only, subject to Local Authority approval. Unless the Local Authority specifically permits its inclusion, ragwort should not be included with green waste collection. The composting facilities may not have the necessary resources and procedures in place for handling ragwort.

Controlled burning or small-scale incineration

Ragwort should be stored under cover to wilt or in paper bags where horses can’t access it. Although empty plastic horse feed bags are likely to be readily available on the yard, they’re not suitable for ragwort to wilt in as it’s likely to turn to mush.
Plastic bags must never be burnt
Causing nuisance from smoke can be classified as an offence set out by regulations in each nation
If dark smoke starts to appear, do not add any more slow-burning materials
Ragwort burning or incineration must be undertaken and supervised by the owner/occupier/manager of the premises.

Considerations before burning

Weather conditions, especially wind direction and wind strength
Avoid causing a nuisance to any nearby residential areas
Take precautions to avoid any surrounding combustible vegetation
Do not start fires close to a road. If an incident occurs as a result of the fire or smoke, this can be classed as an offence.

Domestic settings

Checks should be made with your Local Authority for any bylaws prohibiting burning of garden waste.

Non-domestic settings

Following the relevant regulations, incineration may be an option. For more detailed advice visit:

Rotting

Suitable for disposing of small quantities where ragwort can be safely rotted down on-site.

Note: this is not classed as composting.

For detailed advice on how to set up a suitable system visit:

Using a waste-management company

Suitable for large-scale removal where on-site disposal isn’t possible.

Ragwort can be removed professionally and disposed of legally.

It’s important that the company provides a wheeled or bulk container with a lid. Open skips must not be used to collect ragwort.

For further details on approved contractors/waste management companies, visit:

Signs of ragwort poisoning

What happens when ragwort is ingested?

Identifying Ragwort

Who is responsible?

What to do if there is ragwort on neighbouring land