So we’ve been on the property for 2 months now. I sent some soil samples to the county extension office for evaluation. Unfortunately, with everything going on, I’ve missed seeding my pens. Regardless, I have a ton of weeds in my pastures. The extension office gave me some chemical names when I showed him pictures of the weeds. I know I have Creeping Charlie, but haven’t identified the other plants. One looks like oregano, is growing rather tall and has a woody stem. Yesterday, I bought some Round-Up Spray Concentrate. They make it so it doesn’t affect the grass. The stuff is fairly expensive though and I’ve gone through almost all of it. Any suggestions for what I can use for active horse pastures? We’re in a flood plain and have a creek, so I want something for residential use.
Thanks in advance!
Follow the advice of your Extension officer unless and until you KNOW from a reputable source that there are alternatives. Extension doesn’t get money from vendors, is usually connected to a genuine agricultural school, and will reflect a deep well of professional knowledge.
You don’t need “residential” products you need pasture products. Extension knows the difference as they deal with both. They also know about restrictions around water courses and on flood plains.
Another source is your local Soil Conservation office. They are usually found not too far from Extension. They, too, have goo information.
Last, and not least, is your local co-op. The ARE trying to sell you stuff but mostly they stock is stuff that works in their area.
Don’t approach the project with pre-conceived opinions unless you are experienced in this type of weed control. Be VERY wary of 'Net recommendations (except, of course, for this one 
), as you have no idea what the background of the person is.
Extension is your friend; treat them as such!!! 
G.
When we first moved in here one of the “weeds” we had in our pastures was marijuana
I would go with the tried and true Round-up and diligent mowing. I have a background in turf management but when it comes to my pastures I rely on my extension agent.
they know what the weeds are, what to graze, what soil should be like etc. I would stick to what your agent says and make sure to thank them when you have beautiful pastures!
I also agree with Guilherme, you never know who to believe on the internet. I scratch my head at the amount of people who think something labeled “organic” is perfectly fine to dump on their land or animals without really understanding how it works (or doesnt)!
Mow first then use graze-on…kills only weeds and not toxic to animals/humans
I’d not mow first. I want lots of leaf out there to be coated by the toxic agent so that the roots get the full dose and die quickly.
The product to be used is determined by the weeds you need to control and how much control you want to use. If the infestation is really extreme then you’re likely better off to use RoundUp (or a similar product) and then soil test, reseed, and fertilize and lime as indicated. If the infestation is heavy but there is a decent grass base then use 2,4,D (or whatever broad spectrum but not total elimination) chemical that will kill the weeds that are there. We can still kill our local pig weed with 2,4,d but in some places it’s resistant. So know what you have to kill and then do what is necessary to kill that without overkill or adverse side effects.
This is an aspect of land ownership and management where philosophy has to yield to science.
G.
2,4 D or grazeon. I couldnt get grazeon in my area so I always used 2,4 D with good results. However, depending on where you are it may be too late in the season for any of the broadleaf killers. They work by making the plants growing patterns go into overdrive, killing the plant. If the weeds have gone dormant from cold, it may have little to no effect right now. Your best option may be to mow for now and then next spring spray them all with 2,4 D and reseed.
I probably wouldn’t use roundup near a creek where you could have runoff. In any case, you should use whatever you go with sparingly and ever before heavy rains. The 2,4 D cannot effect animals because of the way it works but it could possibly effect aquatic plant life.
Here is a link to a publication on pasture/hay crop weed management put out by the extension service in our area. It discusses what herbicides to use for different types of weeds. When in doubt, call your Extension Agent. That’s what you pay them for.
I am extremely anti chemical except for poison ivy which we have only sprayed once. We have very good pastures in general except for damage that occurs if we get a drought for an extended period of time. We compost our manure and spread it on the fields, spring and fall. We seed in the spring after spreading manure if needed. We mow our pastures on a regular basis and have very little problems with weeds. If anything, our pastures are a little too lush.
If you compost and spread, it will raise the ph of your soil, which I believe ‘creeping charlie’ doesn’t like. Improving a pasture is something that takes time, but does depend on adequate water and good mowing habits. Planting shade trees outside the pasture fence line, if you are able, will help with moisture retention…eventually.
The extension office rep was really great and I followed his recommendations for certain chemicals when I looked for products at Home Depot. I found the Round Up for Lawns in concentrate form that I could use with a backpack. Still, it’s a small bottle and it didn’t cover all my pens. I don’t live in an agricultural area and we don’t have a co-op. Great idea on the soil conservation.
I took close-up pictures of the weeds in with me when I met with the extension officer. On the stuff that looks like oregano, he advised to cut it first with a mower and then apply the weed-eater so it could penetrate to the roots. Luckily I have trees around a significant part of the pastures, so that’s helpful. When we moved here, the grass was about 3 1/2 feet tall. Once cut, you could see the weeds in it. I determined to have decent pastures for the horses! Overall he said phenoxy chemical class, e.x. 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, clopyralid and triclopyr.
Was wondering if there’s something I can buy from Amazon that will provide me more coverage???
Thanks so much and loved the marijuana story!
I have been reading people recommending Ag extension agents. In my limited interaction with them they struck me more as “classroom” teachers. Their recommendations, suggestions came from books rather than hands on knowledge, practical experience. Some I am sure are much better than others.
IMO and experience the best people to talk to take advise from are you neighborhood farmers. The know the land, the weeds and the best way to go about things in a timely and cost effective way. There are lots of the same weeds found in lots of different parts of the country. But due to different growing conditions and prevailing weather. What works well in one geographic location may or may not work the same in another.
There are a number of weekend warrior weed control products that are made and packaged for the average home owner, lawns and such. They aren’t really meant for farms, big or small by and large. Lawn-care, landscaping centers, Home Depot etc stock and sell stuff for the weekend warrior. Some of their broad spectrum herbicides may or may not be effect. Either way it is expensive compared to what can be had in larger quantities meant for larger acreage and the type of weeds found.
Creeping Charlie, aka ground ivy is pesky and invasive. I have never found 2-4-D to be effective. Just seems to knock it back but not kill off in my neck of the woods. What is effective is Confront, which can be found on Amazon, a lot “farm size” herbicides can be found on Amazon. Other brands that are very effective on the “tough stuff” Crossbow, Tremic, Remedy, Tricolopyyr 4E, Clarity etc.
2-4-D is very effective on a lot of broad leaf pasture weeds pests. And it is cheap when bought in full generic strength around 70% is 2-4-D the balance is water. 2 1/2 gallons for around $60. Plantains, are one of the bane of my paddocks. It is very broad leafed so it shades out growing, spreading grasses. Grows very well in compacted soil. It puts out a prolific amount of seeds that are easily spread by horse walking on them and the seeds being carried around to other parts in their hoofs. People shoes also. Buttercup are an easy kill for 2-4-D, ragweed when it is young, etc. 2-4-D will knock out chickweed. I don’t like nor want any clover in my paddocks. Most horses don’t like it that much anyway. It is very aggressive and will take off, crowd/shade out the desirable grasses if not kept in check. Even if you don’t plant a seed of it. It will find its way into your paddocks from your neighbors. 2-4-D is mildly effective.
2-4-D has little to no effect on “woody” stemmed stuff, poison ivy, milkweed, thistle etc. Milkweed and thistle should be eliminated as soon as you see it starting to creep in. Both grow from tap roots that spread quickly and sent up new growth. If nipped early it can be eliminated. I try and hand pull as much as possible as soon as I see it. But I have over 100 acres so it can be a bit futile. There are a number of herbicides that are made for “woody stemmed weeds” Most of these kinds of weeds start growing in patches. So you can spot spray if caught early.
Timing is everything when it comes to controlling, eliminating pesky weeds. The majority are perennials, they have to reseed themselves. So if you spray after they have gone to seed you will have to do it again. Or use a Pre Emergent Herbicide with the right timing in the spring or fall depending on the species.
In expensive 2-4-D can work on a lot of the hardier stuff if used in early spring when the buggers are young and tender. If you have a lot of different types of weeds you can mix what is needed for everything in with the 2-4-D. But it is more cost effective to spot spray patches of the real nasty stuff. The brands I mentioned above are a lot more expensive than generic 2-4-D so a lot of it will be wasted if sprayed everywhere.
Don’t bother with Pasture Pro and other stuff of the like just because it has a picture of a horse on it. It is mostly a “weak” dilution of 2-4-D and some other herbicides. It is also about 50+% water. Paying a lot of $$ for water. Buy what is needed full strength in quantity will give a MUCH better bang for the buck.
Soil testing is all well and good, and useful. But is it not the end all be all to pasture management. You can keep you soil in “text book” shape and you will still be battling weeds. I promise you, I have done the research and gotten that T-shirt. Don’t worry if you soil does not test text book perfect. If can be a little low in PH and the good grasses will still grow just fine. It can be a bit low in other suggested “things” and grass will grow pretty good. Spending a boat load of money and time trying to amend to text book standards isn’t always worth the money nor time IMO and experience. Diligent mowing will not keep weeds at bay either. I don’t care what is written. Too each their own on these things.
“Organic” herbicides at this time have very limited value. If one keeps on top of things, mow before weeds go to seed which will not eliminate but will cut down, hand pull pesky patches etc will go a long way to not having to use chemicals year in and year out. Which is good for the environment in general.
I have found a number of really good discussion forums on larger scale weed control. No disrespect to this forum but you will get limited sound advice and lots of recommendations to call your local ag agent. There is a bit more to it than what I have l have written Do some research, check out other forums that are dedicated to the topic. The internet is a wonder source of information as long as you extrapolate the information correctly. Talk to your local farmers. Call or go to your local Ag Supply and talk to them. These are the places farmers use. Not home depot, etc.
Thanks so much for the really great advice! Thanks to Gumtree I now know what to buy off Amazon. I really didn’t want to continue paying Home Depot’s prices.
Your welcome. Try and identify as best as possible what you are dealing with. A lot of weeds can and do have local “barn names” or can and do go by several different names depending on one’s geographic area.
Check the labeling for what the different brands are effective on. If the product label on Amazon doesn’t give the details just go to the manufacture’s website. Do a search for using key words, herbicide, woody stemmed weeds, etc. Another product I didn’t list is Grazon.
If you are composting and or selling/giving you muck out to composting companies/people. Check the label to see if it is a “pass-through” herbicide. If it is it can and will have a residual effect in the compost. Kill and or stunt the growth of flowers, veggies etc.
