Ragwort, Senecio jacobaea or St James' ragwort is a biennial to perennial plant. Once it has become established, it is difficult to get rid of, similar to goutweed and field horsetail. The ragwort forms deep taproots and invasive seeds. It is therefore important to control ragwort before it forms seeds that contribute to its rapid spread. The seeds of ragwort are small umbrellas similar to dandelions, which can be carried metres away by the wind. Despite the objectively beautiful yellow flowers, it is understandable that this herb is not favoured in gardens. This is because the weed is highly poisonous. This makes it all the more important to recognise ragwort and eradicate it comprehensively. Glyphosate, Round-up's all-purpose killer, is often used to eradicate this plant. We show you the advantages and disadvantages of some methods and that it can also be done 100% organically.

If you have already tried several methods to get rid of ragwort, why not jump straight to the effective and environmentally friendly method.

Ragwort belongs to the same plant family as thistles and dandelions. It is not so easy to distinguish ragwort from other types of ragwort. However, due to its bright yellow umbel flowers, ragwort is easy to recognise in contrast to inconspicuous weeds such as ragweed. The stubborn weed only flowers in its second year after developing strong roots and a ground-covering leaf rose in its first year. In June, ragweed can often be recognised throughout Europe, North Africa and western Asia by its scattered flowers. The weed owes its name to its flowering time around St James' Day on 25 July.

Many plants are similar to ragwort, but you can still clearly identify the plant using a few helpful characteristics.

Characteristics

Many species of ragwort contain the poisonous pyrrolizidine alkaloids. All parts of the plant, including the ragwort flower, are poisonous. Skin contact alone can lead to irritation. Although it is assumed that the toxic content of the plants is higher the warmer the location, it is important to know that even slightly toxic ragwort can cause damage to health. This herb is particularly dangerous for grazing animals. Many animals have a natural instinct for the bitter flavour of the plant and avoid it. However, when dried, it loses its bitter flavour when preserved. In mown hay or silage, the risk of consumption by animals is very high, especially in winter.

The toxins of ragwort and symptoms

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are secondary plant substances and serve to prevent the plant from being eaten. This substance has a long-term toxic effect on humans and animals. This means that it remains in the organism for longer and accumulates there before symptoms can be recognised. Small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids lead to liver damage. The first symptoms affect the gastrointestinal tract, including bloody diarrhoea. Cramps, staggering and restlessness occur. If the amount is greater, it can lead to liver failure and even death. In contrast to horses, cows, sheep and goats, however, it is not yet known how much is fatal to humans. If the herb has been ingested, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Destroy, clean and disinfect weeds

In the young stage, ragwort is not yet so strong and can only germinate in open areas and gaps between plants. Therefore, recognise the weed early and take preventative measures to stop ragwort from spreading in the first place.

• Ensure a dense sward, without open patches of soil, as the weed's seeds can only germinate in areas where there is little competitionRepair
• damage to grass hubs, e.g. caused by tracks left by lawnmowers, as quickly as possible by reseeding. Do not use ploughs when reseeding to prevent new damage
• Use highly competitive varieties such as perennial ryegrass or meadow swede. Plant additional legumes. They are strong competitors for ragwort, grow quickly and provide the grasses with the necessary nitrogen in the soil, thus preventing the seeds from germinating
• Also repair areas where you have already controlled ragwort to prevent it from germinating again - If you find ragwort, report it to your local authority as soon as possible

Home remedies are of no help here. Substances such as vinegar, salt or baking soda are not suitable for getting rid of this stubborn weed. There are special chemical agents that are somewhat promising in combating ragwort. However, these must be treated with great respect and are rightly only permitted for use by specialised personnel (spraying agent ordinance). In addition, the wrong products are used, such as 2.4 D and MCPA, which are not suitable for controlling this plant. Glyphosate is usually used for control. Due to the strong roots, this method also requires a great deal of patience.

It is particularly important that the young plant is treated and the small florets that would flower the following year are caught. Chemical destruction of ragwort should not be carried out in dry periods and periods with a lot of rain, as the effect of the weedkiller is too weak under these circumstances. Cordon off the area after treatment with chemical agents. These are extremely harmful to children and pets. Please also note that chemical weed killers break down very slowly in plants and soil and pose a danger to the environment for a long time.

You should not tackle ragwort with a hoe, rake or even a mower. Frequent trimming of the weeds will result in increased growth. Mowing ragwort causes even stronger roots to form and it develops a particularly large number of seeds. However, where small amounts of ragwort appear, digging can be a possible method. If you remove ragwort by hand, make sure you start before it flowers in May. Take great care to remove the entire root, as new shoots will quickly grow from the remaining roots. If you recognise the seedlings and rosettes of ragwort, remove them immediately. Their roots are not yet so well developed. It really is a challenge to get rid of this poisonous weed. Some methods are tedious and do not work well. Tougher measures, such as ploughing up and completely reseeding, can help here.

What to consider

• Always use gloves
• Choose a day after heavy rain
• Dig out the roots deeply using a digging fork
• Not suitable for large contaminated areas
• Throw the plants in a rubbish bag into the well-sealed household rubbish. As long as the root is on the plant, it can continue to form seeds
• Check your mechanically treated areas regularly for new ragweed rosettes

However, chemicals and household remedies in the garden are not necessary. There are more than 120 organisms for which ragwort serves as a food source. Various organisms are used for biological control : e.g. flies such as Botanophila Seneciella and beetles, as well as moth caterpillars (e.g. Tyria Jacobaeae, Cochylis Atricopitana, Platyptilia Isodactylus). The rabbit is another natural enemy of ragwort. Without any harmful consequences, the roots of the plant are a delicacy for the rabbit population, which is unfortunately declining at an ever-increasing rate, andback in the 1980s trials in Oregon led to a 90 % reduction in ragwort infestations by combining two different of these organisms. Similarly effective results were also achieved in New Zealand.

The caterpillars of the ragwort beetle (Tyria jacobaeae) and the larvae of the flea beetle (Alticini) are used specifically to combat the spread of the weed. The insects eat the leaves and stems of the weed. They can store the plant's poison in their organism without dying. Whereas the caterpillars feed on the upper part of the plant, the larvae of the flea beetle feed on the roots of the ragwort. In this way, the plant is controlled in its entirety.

It should be borne in mind that this is a long-term endeavour. For results such as those mentioned above, the plants are treated for more than 10 years.

Weed removal with hot water is up to 20 times more effective than with conventional methods such as gas burners or hot air blowers and other household remedies.

our Unkrautfuchs works with constantly regulated hot water (temperature above 90°). Our patented control ensures a constant temperature close to boiling point. Only at temperatures close to boiling point does the effect occur and the plant cells are destroyed.As a result, the weed can no longer absorb water and photosynthesis can no longer take place - the plant dries out.

advantages of the Unkrautfuchs

• The Unkrautfuchs is your ideal companion for combating ragwort on . Due to the selective application, surrounding plants are not damaged.
• The application with hot water only, the convenient handling - without bending down and the lasting effect after just a few applications are convincing.
• can be used in any weather, don't wait any longer for good weatherProblem-free
• use in the vegetable garden, on terraces, paths, high-quality ceramics, lawns and sandboxes

Including steam function for cleaning and disinfecting

• Ragwort has a therapeutic effect, but should only be used by specialised therapists
• Gloves should always be worn when handling ragwort
• Do not dispose of ragwort in the compost
• Involve neighbouring property owners. This is the only way to achieve holistic control of ragwort