Cultural Control of tansy ragwort
(Senicio jacobea L.)
Brief History: Tansy Ragwort was first reported in Oregon in 1922 after introduction into the United States from Europe. It has been found in drier regions of Europe, Asia, and Siberia, where it can survive temperatures of -20 degrees F or lower (2).
Why Tansy Ragwort is a noxious weed: Tansy Ragwort is toxic and it is a threat to livestock and agriculture. Toxic properties also pose a threat to humans as possible contaminants to the food chain. Herbal remedies, such as honey and contaminated milk are potential sources of toxins in the food (3).
Cultural Control, do's and don'ts: Mowing tansy ragwort will not prevent it from coming back. It does the opposite. Mowing tansy ragwort will only spread and re-sprout and flower again in the same season mowed (4). An effective way of getting rid of tansy ragwort would be hand pulling them from the roots (5).
Manual/Mechanical Techniques: Tansy ragwort can be controlled half the time my manual pulling as long as it's done before the flowers begin to seed. Manual techniques work great for small tansy ragwort sites. Tansy ragwort can re-grow when pulled if any of the fibrous roots are left in the soil. When it establishes it is a perennial and returns each year. The best time to use manual control is when the soil is damp and not packed together. Cutting is effective if the plants are going dormant due to an extended period of drought. But, if rain fall occurs, the flowers will re-bloom within three weeks (6).
Cultural Techniques: Cultural control includes use of management tools such as, revegetation of disturbed soil, fertilization, and use of mulch (6).
Physical Control: Physical control may include total removal, covering the growing plants, exposing roots, or stressing weeds to prevent seed production. Tillage is the most common method of physical weed control. Deep tillage is used to dislodge or cut the root system so the plant dies from drying out or from frost damage (1).
What could happen if it is not removed?: Tansy ragwort can kill horses and cattle. The plants contain several different alkaloids that are concentrated mostly in the flowers, followed by leaves, roots, and stems. The plant itself isn't toxic, but when digested by an animal's system, it can be. If the animal repeatedly consumes this weed, then they will die. If you raise horses or cattle you need to be aware of this noxious weed (7).
Other Options: Other Options can include chemical control. You can hire someone to exterminate the weed with chemicals. Biological control may also be useful.
10 links:
2) http://forages.oregonstate.edu/main.cfm?PageID=220
3)http://www.efn.org/~ipmpa/Noxtansy.html
4) http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Senecio_jacobaea.html
5)http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/weeds/BMPs/tansy_ragwort-control.pdf
7) http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/senejac.pdf
8) http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/tcweeds/weeds/fact-sheets/Tansy.pdf
Literature cited:
1) "Tansy Ragwort, Noxious Weed Control, February. 26, 2009
http://www.csrd.bc.ca/works/weed.htm
2) "Tansy Ragwort, history of the weed, February. 26, 2009
http://forages.oregonstate.edu/main.cfm?PageID=220
3) "Tansy Ragwort, as to why it is a noxious weed, February. 26, 2009
http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Senecio_jacobaea.html
4) "King Country, weed prevention, February. 26, 2009
http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/weeds/BMPs/tansy_ragwort-control.pdf
5) "Tansy Ragwort, weed prevention/invasive species , February. 26, 2009
http://www.shim.bc.ca/invasivespecies/_private/Tansy.htm
6) "Tansy Ragwort, Cultural/Manual Control, February. 26, 2009
http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/tcweeds/weeds/fact-sheets/Tansy.pdf
7) "Tansy Ragwort, gardening and livestock effects, February. 26, 2009
http://gardening.wsu.edu/column/08-08-99.htm
By: Clara Schahczenski. - Updated By: Breanna Burt 2/26/09.
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