Controlling rushes without chemicals

Soft rush infestation is a growing problem. In this field lab we explored different ways of controlling rushes without chemicals, and sustainable rush control.

Rushes can take over grass and clover swards with knock-on effects for livestock productivity and profit margins. The overall aim of the field lab is to improve productivity: to carry more stock and/or produce more silage or hay.

Find out more about this field lab

You can read the reports and materials from the activity below:

Soil Association field lab notes

• Grassland management essentials: Part 1 (drainage and soil structure)

• Grassland management essentials: Part 2 (pH and nutrients)

• Cutting rushes: topping and mowing

• Seed mixtures: suitable grass and clover species for reseeding

• Biodiversity: managing areas of rushes for environmental benefit

• Reseeding

• Managing rushes without chemicals: presentation by David Michie

• Managing common rush without chemicals: field lab feedback by Ian Cairns

Field lab case studies

• Caithness: Bilbster Mains

• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park: Kirkton

Further sources of information

• Ian Cairns presentation: Land improvement and control of common rush without using chemicals (Ian Cairns, Agrifood Technical Services Ltd)

• SRUC presentation: Soils, re-seeding and grassland improvement programme (John Holland, SRUC)

Find out more about our full range of field labs in Scotland.

Get involved

If you'd like to share any experiences or ask any questions about rush management (preferably with some photos) then contact us and let us know. We can bring these to this field lab's rush management expert.

Helping you with your management of rushes, helps us gather more information for this project that we can then share with others.