how to get rid of bracken fern

[simplyflow]

Anyone know how to get rid of bracken fern? Is this even possible???? Not only is it over abundant here, but we just got a horse and I know it is poisonous for her.

BTW-Just read an article in TMEN where a lady and her hubby were happy that the ferns came back after doing native planting on their property! Kudos to native planting, but the FERNS!!!

[Sara K]

Yeah....and the cows, sheep, goats and pigs supposidly shouldn't eat it either. Every inch of space that I want as pasture is in ferns.

I'd love to find an animal that can eat just those!!!!! That'd be valuble to me!

[simplyflow]

Well, after close cutting all the ferns in the paddock and raking them out of there...I found this very informative article...

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...fo-bracken.htm

I feel much better now! I know my goats would never touch the stuff...

[chamoisee]

Goats can and do eat them in my experience.

[mayfair]

I've seen horse pastures with stands of untouched bracken fern and the grass eaten around them. I'd guess most animals will avoid eating bracken fern if there's enough else to eat.

[simplyflow]

Originally Posted by Helianthus

Goats can and do eat them in my experience.

I am quite sure that some goats would...I just lucked out and had goats that didn't. On our old property, we were overrun with the darn ferns. Here at the new place there are some spots here and there where we have the ferns, but not as bad. I have a bracken-free spot picked out for my goats-to-be...

[ronbre]

we just pull them up where we don't want them

[simplyflow]

Problem is that that does not kill them. They have are a rhizome and just send out new shoots (ferns).

When they come up in the spring, they are called fiddlehead ferns and people actually harvest and eat them. I do believe that I have heard that you are supposed to cook them first due to the toxins in them.