A cheap, effective, natural weed killer solution!

As I only have a couple of acres, split into 2 main paddocks, I really don’t like the idea of using chemical weed killers on the field in case the horses escape onto the treated paddock (I only have electric fence between paddocks), or in case the chemicals seep into the grazed paddock. As such I spend time chopping thistles, nettles and docks and lifting any ragwort by hand.

I recently had a very stubborn thistle to deal with that refused to give up and die! However, one day I had a eureka moment. I always have a

in a tub in the paddock so the horses have constant access to it. The only problem is that when it rains, the tub fills with water and starts to dissolve the salt lick. One day as I poured the water out of the tub, it splashed onto the said thistle and the weed literally started to die in front of me! I have heard since that sodium chloride (salt) is a great weed killer as it clogs the pores of the plant therefore stopping it from ‘breathing’ or taking in water. Not only does the salt kill the plant, it kills the ground, so you have to be careful to use it sparingly, but this does offer a cheap, chemical free solution to weed control in grazed paddocks.

So, simply dissolve a

(the one I use is the classic red block) in water and spray or pour onto stubborn, unwanted weeds.

Please be aware though, that you must never allow horses to graze where there is ragwort and as ragwort is more palatable when dying(and highly poisonous), do not leave ragwort to die in a field where there are horses!

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SBI!