Newbie lifestyler

Howdy All,

We moved into our nice wee 3 acre lifestyle block about 6 months ago now and just getting the hang of sheep/chooks/chainsaws etc etc. I was hoping someone could advise me on a weed killer to use since our water supply is from a fresh water spring on the block and I don't want to contaminate the ground water. Friends have suggested a glyphosate based weed killer or an organic product such as Hitman. Does anyone have any advise or experince please? Thanks.
Graeme

Hi. A bit more information about you will help us give better suggestions. We only give suggestions based on our experiences. You have to pay for advice .
Where are you (so we can get a guess at rainfall)?
Describe the spring. Is it part of a paddock that has been fenced off, had a hole dug down to the aquifer/ the gravel layer that carries the water, and a pipe put in? Or some meters down a lined hole that needs a pump to get the water out?
How close to the spring are the weeds that you want to kill? Are they uphill of the spring?
Do you want to kill the weeds in the springwater itself?
What type of weeds do you want to kill? Rushes, grasses and most other things glyphosate will do the job. If you want to keep the grasses then you must not use glyphosate.

Hi Graeme,
It would be good to hear how your experience has gone so far as my lady and I are about to move onto a 2+3/4 acre lsb described as rolling contour with 2 acres of paddocks.
We are moving from Manukau and we have never lived in the country but looking forward to it, just south of the Bombay hills. have had some advice from people as to what to put on it,so far it looks like 1/2 doz Chickens and maybe 5 or so sheep, maybe a goat or two can you indicate any pros or cons with our initial ideas. What sort of sheep,chickens or goats? going from the town without even a chainsaw yet! and what if any are your future plans for your lsb. any help would be greatfully appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Keith.

Hi Keith. There are a couple of major problems with running sheep and goats together.
1. Goats get all the diseases that sheep get, and a few others, but get them much worse. They have less fat reserves to fall back on, and a less effective auto-immune system than sheep, so get ill easier.
2. Sheep need very short grass, because that is how they have been made. Goats need long grass and plants that sheep would consider to be weeds. Thus you really need two different pasture types. Goat pasture is much more like cattle pasture.
3. Goats metabolism is different than sheep. With copper, goats need as much as would be poisonous for a sheep. Cows and goats copper needs are more similar.
4. Some goats are able to be fenced in, as are some sheep. But goats that cannot be fenced in with a fence that would hold a sheep, because they know how to jump or push through or under a fence, are harder to contain than sheep.

When you need a chainsaw, buy a Stihl or Husqvana, obtain chaps and steel toed boots, and get lessons on sharpening, maintenance and how to use the saw.

Interesting you should mention the chainsaws LR. I was in the pub at Lumsden one night and two forestry crews came in. One had Stihls, the other had Huskies. Each was convinced that they had the best brand. I've got a Husky because the local Stihl dealer wouldn't give me a special deal for a cash sale and the Husky dealer did.

Try Bio Weed Killer from a company called Green Wheels Limited. It is a broadleaf weed killer only.