North West Sutherland Food Link.

We've had some fantastic weather for November. 7th Nov was a brilliant day for spraying, sunny, mild, and calm, but unfortunately I was busy elsewhere. 8th was OK, but again, I lost the opportunity. The next week was sunny and mild, but a little too breezy. 15th was a "maybe" day, but today, 16th, I've acheived what I wanted to do. I've sprayed two patches on my croft, and the patch on my neighbours croft where we grew tatties last year, and where he plans to grow them next year.

I purchased a knapsack sprayer at the end of the summer, and spent a day calibrating it, checking nozzle outouts, so I could accurately measure the chemical needed, and the "forward" speed. I sprayed a couple of patches, and these are now totally dead, rushes and all. I think the mix for the first attempt was a bit strong. Today I used 0.4 of a litre of Clinic Ace per 16 l tank mix, and am pleased that I covered approximately 1/10 ha (25 x 40m) per tank. This is at the rate of 4.0 l/ha, ideal for grass control.

I now hope that the weather will be kind, to allow the uptake of the chemical, and absorbtion to the roots, which it kills. Should see the effects in a fortnight or so.

I try to be as organic as possible, but for this job, the initial ground preparation, I think this is the best method. I want to kill off the grass now, remove the food source for leatherjackets and wireworms. Create a bare patch to spread seaweed on, before rotorvating in spring. I could have used black polythene, or old carpet, but this creates a haven for vermin, without the total control that Glyphosate gives. I may not have controlled the creeping thistle, but hopefully a hoe and hand weeding will cure that next summer.