Controlling bracken

[naturallandscapes]

Has anybody used a braken roller to control braken, i have one on a compact tractor and it works very well. beats using chemical

[stripee]

do you find the bracken comes back the following year?

[ceterach]

We have been doing this for some years on large areas of Bracken to restore Calluna Heath and it works but has to be repeated over a long time to gradually weaken the Bracken. In the later stages there are problems because the best time to roll is also when ground-nesting birds are nesting!

[stripee]

I have found the bracken this year has gone mad because of the wet weather and previously weakened areas have returned in force. Areas cut for 3 or 4 years still comes back. I'm wary of using chemicals and rolling is not practical, although I'm interested in its usefullness, so I cut it by hand, a daily chore but the cynanide/health risks? Its a pity nothing wants to eat it!

[Ludd]

Our tested method is pulling the bracken up by hand (and glove), in a way that you break the stems where they join the root. Do this as soon as the leaves are opening. I have been doing this for 3 years and the results are stunning! Some still come back up, but they are clearly showing signs of exhaustion!

Trick is to not let it photosyntesise.

Seems like it makes a lovely compost or weedsupressor too! (if the heap of decomposing bracken is high enough to generate enough heat to destroy the toxins)