NoVa Pasture Management Question - Weed Killer First or Seed First

[CalPal]

Hi All - writing from NoVa - just west of Marshall, VA. We have a five acre farmette and while paddocks are in decent shape, I have noticed increasing numbers of weeds in the past few years.

I have done a soil sample with our local co-op, searched these boards and many of the extension publications, but can’t seem to get an answer as to whether I should seed first or put down weed killer first?

I was going to use a grazing safe (even though I won’t put them on it right away) broadleaf killer, and I usually seed the bare spots near gates, and overseed the high traffic areas.

Should I go ahead and spray for weeds first, then seed? Or is it better to seed now and then wait until the weeds have emerged a little more to spray?

Any advice is much appreciated and if anyone knows of a good pasture consultant person in the greater Marshall/Middleburg/Warrenton area would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Guilherme]

Kill first, then seed. Unless your Extension Agent or package label says differently.

I don’t know that it would make a difference to seed or young grass but why take the the risk? You delay the seeding by a few days but over the course of a season will that be relevant? Probably not.

G.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

In my area I hit broadleaf in the late summer/fall. I will target noxious weeds by hand during the summer, but I get a pretty good kill this way. It is easier for me to seed in the spring (better chance of rain–soil moisture).

2-4D does have a wait to seed after spraying (I’m guessing that is in your product). How long depends on the rate of application.

I am not in NoVa, so probably shouldn’t even comment. Take this with a grain of salt.

[CalPal]

Thanks very much for the input. I’m mad at myself for missing the fall weed kill opportunity, but does seem to make sense to do the kill first. I have talked to our co-op guys and they are honestly very vague on it.

[Gamma]

I am not good with this stuff, I was hoping lots of people with more knowledge than me would chime in first. I know some weed killers (broad leaf stuff) work primarily when the weed is in the leafy stage. So some might not work very well if you apply them right now. I’ve seen warnings against mowing right before/after applying weed killer, because it will prevent some from working. Something to cross check against all your labels.

[Palm_Beach]

I spray for weeds, but don’t seed. I like to have native grasses, they seem to do better even though they are a little tougher and less lush than some of the commercial field seed mixes.

[fordtraktor]

I would spray first once the plants are starting to unfold in early spring. Wait until the broadleaf is out for it to work well, but not too much. I think spring sprays are ideal for this. Then seed if you are going to.

Weed killer is stressful for young seedlings so I would not spray very young plants.

However, it’s my opinion that it would have been best to seed in the fall and spray in the spring. That’s the way we tend to do it when we get around to it but there’s really no harm done, it will be fine. I missed my chance to seed last fall so I’m going to do a spring spray, then seed a few places about a month or six weeks later before so they’ll be established it gets hot. Not a problem.

[CalPal]

Thanks for the input folks. Much appreciated!

[LookmaNohands]

What were the results of the soil samples?

Was liming or fertilizing recommended?

Tim Mize is the local extension agent in Warrenton.