Ep164: Is this TOXIC weed in your livestock pastures?

In this video, we take a look at Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) and how it has taken over a portion of our chicken pasture. This plant is toxic to animals and to humans but is there any positive use for Horse Nettle? Does it have any benefits?
References:
equusmagazine....
www.naturalmedi...
oursimplefarm.c...
Be sure to subscribe to our channel and support our efforts by giving us a thumbs up.
Follow us on facebook at / redtoolhousefarm
Visit our website and be sure to sign up for our email newsletter so you will be up to speed on what goes on at our homestead. redtoolhouse.co...
If you would like to help Red Tool House Homestead maintain the expenses of running this channel, consider using our Amazon Affiliates link when you shop on Amazon.
Amazon Link: goo.gl/4fiaxX

[@2ladyhomesteadershodge898]

I did a video on my channel last year about this "monster" plant. I have pulled thousands and thousands of these and they still keep coming back thicker. The thorns even go through thick leather gloves. It came through 3 layers of cardboard with wood chips on top. Like I said, "monster" plant. Vivian Ann on the side of the mountain in northeast Tennessee

[@sam-and-angela]

Our pastures have this littered around. Our sheep don't eat it, so it makes it easier to find and burn out. We generally use a propane weed torch or will dig out the plant with a hoe and toss it in the woods. It's an ongoing task though. Just something to keep us occupied when we get bored. :-)

[@RedToolHouse]

Is there a specific time of year you flame weed it?

[@sam-and-angela]

Red Tool House - Homestead Any chance we get. I try to stay on top of them and burn and dig out as soon as I seen any signs.

[@rancoffman3649]

their is always that one animal..... one of our horses ate this on September 5, 2018.. neurological sympotons, mouth sores, sweating, rash, twitching, aggression, halucinations and eventually I couldn't watch her suffer anymore. she was put down. about 6 hours after discovering that she was ill. by the time we realized what this colt ate, and informed the vet, it was too late.

[@XY-pt1go]

I am enjoying the segments that cover various plants and trees. If you are going to continue to cover invasive species, at some point it makes sense to discuss... Kudzu.

[@RedToolHouse]

That is some nasty stuff! I will put it on the list.

[@XY-pt1go]

@@RedToolHouse You might want to set up a separate KZbin channel for it. Tell Google that you started it on this channel, but it seems to be spreading uncontrollably.

[@michaelripperger5674]

One word... GOATS !

[@barbaramurphy5606]

I asked the Permaculture folks about kudau - said "it'll grow into a long vine, get over the fence and just keep going"....so I didn't get any!!! My cows would have enjoyed it but, by golly, we have enough weed species to not risk another. Mid north coast NSW Australia.

[@tomellington-taterroadfarm668]

I would scrape or push it all up in a pile and burn it. Roto Till the ground about every 4 days for a few weeks to cut up and dry out the roots and to keep them from taking hold again. Toss grass seed very heavy and cover with straw

[@pmessinger]

I wonder what undiluted vinegar might do sprayed on horse nettle.

[@newtoolgaming559]

Could you make some videos of you physically removing the weeds and plants its nice to see you take equipment and landscape

[@cat3rgrl246]

idk if it would work but in GB they a variety of nettle for a base when putting in thatched roofs

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Since you have a nice patch there could you just cover the plants with tarps and starve them from sunlight?

[@RedToolHouse]

That would work!

[@gregkocher5352]

I was trying to see if you have a vid on dealing with indian henp/ dogbane. I dont want to plow up all my hay fields, yet.

[@laurabunyard8562]

This is called Silverleaf Nightshade. I got rid of it by pulling the plants out with needle nose pliers and gloves. It is a perennial and it spreads by seed and roots.

[@sissydewoody8717]

Re: use as attractant for tomato/potato bugs. To avoid it rooting and becoming an invasive problem, how about putting in large pots through vegie patch .. keep trimmed so won't flower/fruit. just a though.

[@RedToolHouse]

That would be a good way to control it. AS long as you trimmed it in time like you suggest.

[@karlvonjena1480]

I'm fighting an infestation of Japanese Knotweed. It also is a rhizome with runners and seeds, except the runner roots can be about as big around as your wrist. They have been known to break up driveways and foundation walls. The prevailing wisdom in eradication is that covering it or mowing it is just a holding action and will never win the war. Digging it up only encourages it to sprout from every piece of broken root you leave behind. Massive chemical attack will often trigger a dormant state that will have it pop back up 1-3 years later. Those that have successfully won the war used herbicide in a very specific way. As the stalks have a hollow, segmented nature much like bamboo, the secret is to chop down the stalk to the segment closest to the ground and fill the segment with herbicide. Do this religiously for about 3 years and you can defeat it. I'm in year two of my battle and I'm beginning to see results. Most of the big rhizomes are dead and I'm just killing off the smaller and weaker plants sprouting from the runners.

[@RedToolHouse]

Wow. That sounds crazy. I have not run into that one yet. Good luck!

[@patriciakavanaugh5300]

Thank you for this info. Could you also tell us what that tall, purple flowered plant is in the near background? I have a small bunch of that at the edge of my wooded area and can't find anyone who knows around here. Thanks, again.

[@RedToolHouse]

You got it. It is everywhere too

[@patriciakavanaugh5300]

Red Tool House - Homestead Thanks. Now I need to decide what to do with it. lol

[@patriciakavanaugh5300]

joe goat Thanks.

[@neverettebrakensiek8771]

Ive got it in my pasture, SE Missouri

[@philadams3829]

We call it sandbriar in my corner of Fayette county. It's a tossup between it and morning glory for the title of Worst Plant Ever.

[@RedToolHouse]

Morning glory is CRAZY!

[@thehalfcockedhomestead3973]

I wondered what that was. I have vines growing next to my tomato patch. I need to uproot those. They are evil. My kids thankfully stay away from them but since they are toxic, I had better remove them from my garden.

[@RedToolHouse]

I pull it when ever I find it.

[@thehalfcockedhomestead3973]

Got it pulled out now. On the fire. Thanks for the info!

[@TheWadetube]

I pull anything with thorns. Pull it while it is young and the thorns are short. If it has some rizomes or leader roots put some kind of salt in the hole and let that destroy the broken root. I don't use round up for anything, I don't want to support the company or poison the land. Epsom salt should work.

[@RedToolHouse]

Good plan. I am with you on the Round Up ban. Not on my farm.

[@LeaningCedarRanch]

I just discovered them on my property!! Read it was used medicinally by Native Americans for epilepsy…any word on that??

[@davewygonowski984]

How about just spraying it with vinegar?

[@terriperry9434]

I have read that even burning doesn’t work because the roots can go down 10 feet.

[@saeed7099]

I tried pulling one and ended up with a torn in my thumb. I had gloves on

[@user-wd3po8sd7k]

I am in California and I can’t get rid of these. I think it may have been transferred to us from our lawn service

[@jimpetersen8900]

I just keep it mowed off so it can't flower and Seed

[@stanleyjohnston5876]

Try digging up the roots and continue disking it.

[@GraceHomesteadFarm]

I sent you an email before watching all of what I needed to send so I didnt add my channel link. I have this in my garden! Evil for sure!! You need leather gloves to pull this stuff. It is awful!! Thanks I didn't know what it was called. Happy homesteading ~Shaina~

[@RedToolHouse]

I will keep an eye out for your email

[@user-wd3po8sd7k]

I call them demon weeds. I’m constantly pulling them and within days they’re back.

[@robertmcgee141]

Maybe use the tractor to scrape it up.

[@pjmtts]

That is exactly what I call it Along with Canada thistle 🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤐😶😵

[@timjones1583]

ROUNDUP

[@nancyfahey7518]

I vote for gasoline ad a match.

[@mynameisnotcory]

looks like eggplant

[@mynameisnotcory]

some say goats will eat it

[@RedToolHouse]

Without adverse effects? What I have read says it is toxic to them as well.

[@jimpetersen8900]

I just keep it mowed off so it can't flower and Seed