Killing weeds in on Horse Property (not pasture)

[ladymcts]

Most of what I’m finding by googling is dealing with weeds in a grazing pasture, so I’m curious if you folks can help?

I’m looking to kill off vegetation on a gravel surface for what should be used as a vehicle parking area. And yet this area will be one trafficked by visiting equestrians. The vegetation is a mix of grasses and a lot of moss.

The “need” to kill this stuff is purely cosmetic … I know that putting down new gravel would help both killing it off and making the area look nicer. But budget is tight, so is there any good way to kill off the vegetation and still be safe for horses later on? There’s still about five weeks before any horses might visit.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Edited to add: When it comes to safety for the horses, I’m thinking that vegetation could potentially grow back that horses might want to graze on, and also that it’s conceivable a visitor might just throw flakes of hay down for a horse to munch on. So I am reluctant to use one of those “kills everything” sprays.

[fordtraktor]

Well, there is Roundup. If you want to keep the grass, PasturePro. Or you could torch them.

[Flash44]

Round up is safe for horses. I spray my fence lines with it.

[SouthernYankee]

Pramitol is a good soil sterilizer, that’s the active ingredient so you may have to look for it by a different brand name. In theory it will kill the actively growing plants and any seeds that have not germinated yet. It is not as cheap as Roundup but should last much longer.

Roundup is a brand name for glyphosphate, you can find the same thing cheaper in a different brand, I use Cornerstone Plus on my farm. It will come in different concentrations depending on where you buy it, Roundup at lowes is about 20% active ingredient and the Cornerstone Plus I buy from the co-op is about 47% active ingredient. It is safe to spray around any livestock. However it only kills the actively growing plant so any seeds or new growth will need to be sprayed.

[Mallard]

Roundup!

Here in Ontario you need a ‘pesticide licence’ to buy the good concentrated stuff from the feed stores.
The cheaper stuff sold in reatila stores in not effective.

[ladymcts]

Really? Wow, well, I guess that-was-easy. I just thought that roundup would probably be something that would not be safe. I’ve used it before around the house (no horses), and remember all of these nasty warnings about not getting it on you, cleaning well afterwards, etc. Thought maybe it would stay in the ground for a long time after, and not be safe. I guess I’ll take a look closer at the label next time I’m in the store!

Thanks!

[Alagirl]

on gravel I would flame it off with a torch (I have not seen them on the US market, but it’s widely available in Europe: a long wand, kind of like a metal detector, attached to a propane tank)

You don’t have to burn the plant, a quick pass will still kill it, and it’s non toxic, and rather cheap.

[Underthebridge]

Torches are available,

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AXEFW/ref=asc_df_B0000AXEFW3108944?smid=AF8EGQ3KRZQB6&tag=pgmp-1463-86-20&linkCode=df0&creative=395109&creativeASIN=B0000AXEFW

also? Black plastic
or Round up

[Beentheredonethat]

I’m trying to kill the 10 foot high mustard weed and thistle, and I tried a weed killer like Round Up that is the 5% glyphosphate. The weeds didn’t even turn brown. The super expensive roundup that is 15% is like $28 a quart.

I researched and I have this coming from Amazon. Super cheap dried ingredients to make 40% glyphosphate. I should be getting it Thursday.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00745CNKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Underthebridge]

But Round Up is not for brush or thistle?

[Guilherme]

RoundUp is just fine for most jobs, including the OPs. The “evil RoundUp zealots” often spin tall tales but they are just that.

I’ve got a burner and it works to get current growth but does not necessarily do anything to the root. RoundUp does.

For stuff where RoundUp would not be appropriate I’d call the local Extension office and ask them for recommendations. There are some very powerful weed killers available and “civilians” can often use them if they take a short (two or three hour) course in save use.

Just don’t “redneck” the problem with creosote or the like. There are plenty of “old timers” who will suggest that.

G.

[js]

Milestone Specialty Herbicide with Aminopyralid for Noxious and Invasive Weeds is safe for horse areas. I know you aren’t using it in the pasture but if you are still looking for something that is safe, this works. It’s expensive though.

[horsepoor]

It is often possible to control weeds and such on gravel areas by just dragging regularly with a harrow. You might have to spray to get a neglected area under control initially, but dragging can do a lot, is cheap, and limits the chemical use.

[gumtree]

Roundup will/should work for what you are asking. But Roundup by design has a limited “kill period”. It was designed for use by crop farmers for active weed control, killing off ground cover before planting a spring crop etc. It “dissipates”, “neutralizes” in about 6 weeks or so and the soil can be planted again. So if you want to keep the area clear of grass and weeds you will have to use Roundup on a regular bases. It is not meant for this sort of application.

If you want to keep the area grass/weed free use Ground Clear or a similar herbicide. It only has to be used once a year for most jobs. Nothing will grow there so there is nothing for horses to graze on anyway. A lot of horse farm use it on their fence lines using a spot sprayer. Saves on weed eating. Have never heard it having any negative effect with horses.

If you want to go “green” you can use “industrial strength” vinegar. Not easy to find. And will need repeated applications. But does a great job with no environmental worries.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Beentheredonethat;8069685]
I’m trying to kill the 10 foot high mustard weed and thistle, and I tried a weed killer like Round Up that is the 5% glyphosphate. The weeds didn’t even turn brown. The super expensive roundup that is 15% is like $28 a quart.

I researched and I have this coming from Amazon. Super cheap dried ingredients to make 40% glyphosphate. I should be getting it Thursday.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00745CNKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1[/QUOTE]

Roundup has limited value for a lot of broadleaf weeds. Better off with generic 2-4-D, 60-70% strength. No fancy label, no horse picture, but perfectly safe to use with grazing horses. It is the main ingredient in Pasture Pro that horse people always recommend. Pasture Pro has a couple of other broadleaf herbicides in it also. But if you look at the ingredients everything is very diluted. Especially the main ingredient 2-4-D. Much bigger “bang for the buck” just buying “generic” 2-4-D and mix to the strength needed for the weeds being addressed. 1 1/2 gallons of Generic 2-4-D sells for around $60-70 and will make up several gallons of "Pasture Pro. Thistle and mustard weed need a combination of 2-4-D and Clarity if memory serves. 2-4-D, and or roundup will not have much effect on these.

I see “talk to your Ag agent” posted all the time. Me I talk to the pros, my neighbor crop farmers and or the Ag suppliers. The ones the crop famers hire. Their business is weed control, fertilizer and the application of both if needed.

And they know and sell types of grass/pasture seed that grows well in their geographic location. It is their business to know what works and what doesn’t or they will be out of business in short order. Ag agents have “no skin” in the game.

[Equibrit]

[QUOTE=Beentheredonethat;8069685]
I’m trying to kill the 10 foot high mustard weed and thistle, and I tried a weed killer like Round Up that is the 5% glyphosphate. The weeds didn’t even turn brown. The super expensive roundup that is 15% is like $28 a quart.

I researched and I have this coming from Amazon. Super cheap dried ingredients to make 40% glyphosphate. I should be getting it Thursday.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00745CNKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1[/QUOTE]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchDisplay?pageSize=&searchType=&resultCatEntryType=2&filterTerm=&searchTerm=Glyphosate+&pageView=image&catalogId=10051&showResultsPage=true&beginIndex=0&langId=-1&storeId=10151&sType=SimpleSearch

2 quarts : 50 gallons. Stronger if you need it.

[kel22]

It depends on the species of plants. You need to first identify them. HorseDVM.com has a toxic plant finder tool which helps you to get an idea of what it could be, with recommended chemical and non-chemical solutions. Sometimes it can be tricky depending on the stage of growth. Certain periods they are more susceptible to killing then others.

[Beentheredonethat]

Thanks, gumtree. I’ve never heard of 2-4-D. It looks like I can get it. I will grab some at Walmart and test it against the glyphosphate. I did a search on weeds and didn’t get the amine 400.

Equibrit–We don’t have Tractor Supply here, but I think the dried glyphosphate from Amazon is the best value. We’ll see.

I can’t figure out what Clarity is. Is it an ingredient or a brand name? The only thing I can find locally was at Walmart under algae control.

The weeds are REALLY nasty and should have been cut down two months ago, but the pasture is steep and you can’t get in there. It’s mustard weed http://www.cbs19.tv/story/17269323/mediterranean-mustard-weed-invading-texas at about 10 feet high. The hemlock seems ti have died off from the drought. The thistle get about 4 feet around http://www.southeastweeds.org.au/index.pl?page=193. And the stinging nettle even the horses won’t walk in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urtica_dioica

There’s not way to clear the 60 acre pasture. I’m just trying to clear some pathways and the mess around the barn.

We don’t have Ag control around here. I live in a major city area. The barn is on the edge of a huge park system.

[Peggy]

[QUOTE=gumtree;8070935]
<snip>
If you want to go “green” you can use “industrial strength” vinegar. Not easy to find. And will need repeated applications. But does a great job with no environmental worries.[/QUOTE]
I’ve had good luck mixing regular strength vinegar with salt and Dawn Dish detergent. Not something you want to use where you will want plants to grow down the line. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/use-vinegar-salt-weed-killer-49329.html

[Nuages]

[QUOTE=Alagirl;8069656]
on gravel I would flame it off with a torch (I have not seen them on the US market, but it’s widely available in Europe: a long wand, kind of like a metal detector, attached to a propane tank)

You don’t have to burn the plant, a quick pass will still kill it, and it’s non toxic, and rather cheap.[/QUOTE]

Such a thing exists? I have a father who can be maniacal about weeds in his perfectly manicured landscaping. He may be the proud new owner of one…

However he did almost burn down the house via an out of control burn pile so maybe some more thought is needed.