[Brendankearns]

My lawn has been invaded by ragwort and have read plenty online about it but no clear solution to best remove it - anyone got any recommend that have been tried and tested?

Thanks.

[Greengage]

There is a change in the thinking about ragwort being a noxious weed, Although it is still on the books and I have nver heard of anyone being prosecuted for having it not that any of the gardai would know what it is anyway.It is an important food source for the cinnebar moth, anyway are you sure you have ragwort in a lawn area.I dont think it is in flower yet anyway. If you do have ragwort it is easily removed by pulling it out it is only dangerous to animals when it is left on the ground and dries out. How about a pic.
http://www.teagasc.ie/horticulture/advisory/vegetable/ragwort.asp

[kindredspirit]

Is your lawn not mown then? Ragwort, I imagine, wouldn't thrive if a lawn is regularly mown.

[Brendankearns]

Thanks for the responses. I shall post a picture later but looking at images online I'm pretty sure it's ragwort. I do cut the lawn every 2 weeks but it's not killing the ragwort, if anything every year ragwort is increasing. I tried pulling it out by hand but i read that if any of the root is left in the ground it'll grow back next year so I'm fighting a losing battle at the minute. Really don't want to hit it with Roundup as it'll kill everything including my lawn. I have tried verdone to try to kill it but Verdone doesn't list ragwort as a weed that it'll kill - was spraying the other weeds anyway so it was worth a try.

Maybe there isn't an easy solution to this problem and just regular mowning with hand wedding is the best way forward....

[Margo]

There is the weedkiller that you just can paint on the nasty weeds. Then no other plants are affected.

[Brendankearns]

Interesting idea Margo, i could use Roundup and paint it on directly..... I like that idea - thanks

[kindredspirit]

You can buy Roundup Gel with a pump action for solitary weeds.

I use it for switch grass growing in among other plants, although I don't like using weedkiller. I've no alternative with switch grass because trying to dig it out always leaves a tiny bit of root left to regrow.

[Good guy]

You can also get Roundup in a stick, like a deodorant, to rub on individual leaves.
I read somewhere that ragwort is an important host plant to about 30 different invertebrates. Maybe seeds are blowing in to your garden from surrounding fields. If you pull up the young plants, roots and all, there is little chance they will re-grow. Always do it when the soil is wet, after rain.

[Brendankearns]

thanks all

[Greengage]

Ok I am going to go out ona limb here and suggest you do not have ragwort on your lawn but something ellse, like Plantain or yarrow.
Look forward to the photo,
ragwort is a biennial weed meaning that it produces lots of leaf in year one with the aim to produce a significant number of flowers in its second year. its rarely a problem in lawns.

[Brendankearns]

I'll share the Ragwort photo later

[Brendankearns]

Here it is

[Keeks]

I'm no expert but doesnt look like ragworth to me.....no idea what it is

[tagwex]

That is not ragwort I would wager. Though I can see why you think it is. Photos could be better though.

[Greengage]

I hate to admit but I was wrong, believe thats ragwort all right,
http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/topic/lawn-weed-identification/summer-flowering-weeds
Scroll down to picture of wragwort and move mouse across picture.
here is another.
http://www.lawnweeds.co.uk/ragworth.html