Weed control

[knightrider]

I was reading the other thread about Herbicides but didn’t want to t/j it. I feel like i’m too late to put weed killer down now in my pastures. Kind of behind this year in my yard work. Am I too late?

I have one or two pastures I could do this weekend, but not sure what to use and how long to keep the horses off the pasture. Also, do i need to worry about runoff if I do one pasture to the other with rain? They are separated by my driveway?

What is Grazon? I have mostly just your typical VA weeds that I would like to kill… any suggestions? How long do the horses need to be off the pasture? And am I too late? Thanks in advance!

[SMF11]

I don’t know about general herbicides, but I had one field sprayed for bedstraw last October, and I’ve called crop production services for them to do another field this year. They said it didn’t matter what time of year to spray; don’t know if that is just for bedstraw or all other weeds.

Sorry, this wasn’t much help. Just my point was I sprayed in October.

[Guilherme]

First, call your County Extension Agent. They will give you specific information for your area. They will also help you select a spraying schedule and materials that will best work for your area and use.

The local Soil Conservation Office also has this sort of information.

Regard Grazon, I bought some 2,4,D at the Co-Op a couple of days ago and was offered Grazon (the “light” version not the one that requires an applicator’s card). After some discussion with the salesman I declined it. It is a powerful product (more so than 2,4,D) but also has some restrictions on hay and manure that results from the hay. That last one was a surprise. I didn’t read the label just accepted what the clerk said as “gospel.”

I’ve used 2,4,D for a couple of decades and know what it can and can’t do and what the consequences of use are and are not. I’ll stick with what I know for now!

G.

[RBH411]

OP, to be honest, your post scares me. Whatever herbicide you choose, READ THE LABEL! You are bound by law to follow it and you can be held liable for any damages you cause because of misuse. I don’t mean to be rude, but the label will educate you on how to use the product, the ways not to use it, and will answer the questions you posed. You cannot rely on hearsay to gain he knowledge to apply a pesticide.

That said, I would contact your local university extension agent to get the best recommendation on what to use (sometimes local coops/retailers put a priority on selling product over best recommendations). Depending on the weeds present, the recommendation will vary. Hard to kill weeds are easier controlled in the fall because they are sending energy to the roots for winter and the herbicide can then also easily move there. Killing the roots is the key to killing a perennial. Right now the weeds are focused on producing foliage and may not respond best to herbicide. You success will depend on the weed and the herbicide.

You cannot buy Grazon without a pesticide applicators license. It is a good product for pasture control, however you need to put some thought into it. Residues from sprayed plants can move through the digestive system of animals and stay in the manure. So if you spread the manure on broadleaf crops or a garden, you can have issues with plant growth in those areas. There are no documented safety/health issues with the residues and the animals that eat them.

Again, I mean no offense, but as an agronomist and weed scientist, I get reactive to potential mis/un-safe use of pesticides.

[Pdgx]

Been using Pasture Pro from TSC for many years. Works well on most weeds and label states there is no wait time between application and turnout after spray dries. I normally wait unti next day though.
Spray anytime when it’s not going to rain. Just follow the mixing ratio.
The sky’s not falling, they’re just weeds.

[Texarkana]

A couple years ago my neighbor offered (well, begged) me to allow him to treat my pasture with 2,4-d. It killed just about EVERYTHING edible in my pasture in addition to the weeds. I had to feed hay the rest of the season. And even though 2,4-d is supposed to be “safe,” my aged gelding had a massive cardiac event and died a few weeks later, not long after he was reintroduced to the pasture. I have always wondered if that was a coincidence.

Since then, I’ve become a big fan of mowing frequently and overseeding for weed control. While it doesn’t produce the “insta-results” of an herbicide, it does not harm the grasses, clovers, and edible weeds and is much more environmentally friendly in the long run. If you can knock the weeds down regularly before they can seed and shade out the grasses, they don’t overtake the pasture.

We do occasionally spot-treat some of the more weedy areas once or twice a year, like along the fence line since we have electric. But even that we try to keep to a minimum.

[Foxglove]

I have 20 acres with no (as in 0) weeds. About ten years ago when I realized my grass pasture was being taken over by weeds even though I religiously mowed, I took a soil sample into the chemical company that all the farmers used that have big acreage (Helena). The people there listened to what I said, they tested my soil, and one of them came out to look at the weeds (ok, he was my neighbor but he didn’t have to do it). They came back with a custom mix for me that was mostly Trimec, some Coron, and a third chemical EleMax. Trimec is a broad leaf herbicide and Coron is a nitogen to promote growth. I can’t remember what EleMax does, but it does it well.

I mix the liquids with water and spray on my yard and pastures. Weeds die. Grass grows. I give each pasture 7 days before I put the geldings back on it.

I have three pastures, so doing one every week for three weeks works for me.

I have had no problems with this. Instead, what I have are beautiful, lush pastures with no weeds. My husband (an accountant) figured that we reclaimed about 3-4 acres from the weeds and where we live that’s about 60 to 80 bales of hay --or in our case, hay we don’t have to buy because there is great pasture.

We did try skipping a year --but found that bur-docks immediately regrew and nettles were encroaching, too. Our cost is about $24 an acre.

Foxglove

[seabreeze]

[QUOTE=Foxglove;8141534]
I have 20 acres with no (as in 0) weeds. About ten years ago when I realized my grass pasture was being taken over by weeds even though I religiously mowed, I took a soil sample into the chemical company that all the farmers used that have big acreage (Helena). The people there listened to what I said, they tested my soil, and one of them came out to look at the weeds (ok, he was my neighbor but he didn’t have to do it). They came back with a custom mix for me that was mostly Trimec, some Coron, and a third chemical EleMax. Trimec is a broad leaf herbicide and Coron is a nitogen to promote growth. I can’t remember what EleMax does, but it does it well.

I mix the liquids with water and spray on my yard and pastures. Weeds die. Grass grows. I give each pasture 7 days before I put the geldings back on it.

I have three pastures, so doing one every week for three weeks works for me.

I have had no problems with this. Instead, what I have are beautiful, lush pastures with no weeds. My husband (an accountant) figured that we reclaimed about 3-4 acres from the weeds and where we live that’s about 60 to 80 bales of hay --or in our case, hay we don’t have to buy because there is great pasture.

We did try skipping a year --but found that bur-docks immediately regrew and nettles were encroaching, too. Our cost is about $24 an acre.

Foxglove[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this info. We have a Helena branch nearby, and I need to utilize it and our local county extension agent. I have great pastures, mostly because I only have 3 horses on about 7-8 acres. But I noticed more weeds last year, and this year even more. It’s time to start the process of revitalizing. I didn’t even think about Helena until I read your post.

[Cindyg]

I’m so jealous, Foxglove. I thought about your post while I was out in my field today. Arg!

We don’t have a county extension agent. The position is unfilled.

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=Texarkana;8141517]
A couple years ago my neighbor offered (well, begged) me to allow him to treat my pasture with 2,4-d. It killed just about EVERYTHING edible in my pasture in addition to the weeds. I had to feed hay the rest of the season. And even though 2,4-d is supposed to be “safe,” my aged gelding had a massive cardiac event and died a few weeks later, not long after he was reintroduced to the pasture. I have always wondered if that was a coincidence.

Since then, I’ve become a big fan of mowing frequently and overseeding for weed control. While it doesn’t produce the “insta-results” of an herbicide, it does not harm the grasses, clovers, and edible weeds and is much more environmentally friendly in the long run. If you can knock the weeds down regularly before they can seed and shade out the grasses, they don’t overtake the pasture.

We do occasionally spot-treat some of the more weedy areas once or twice a year, like along the fence line since we have electric. But even that we try to keep to a minimum.[/QUOTE]

What most likely happened is that your neighbor’s sprayer was contaminated with RoundUp or some other product. Mix that with 2,4,D and you will get a much larger kill than you want. I had a tenant do this here several years ago.

In more than 20 years of 2,4,D use I’ve not had problems. I use it, however, strictly IAW label directions, recommended application rates, and good practices (like rinsing out the spray rig before the first tank is used).

But, in good weed management, spraying is part of the program, not the entire program. Your County Agent can help prepare a good program.

G.

[Texarkana]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;8143690]
What most likely happened is that your neighbor’s sprayer was contaminated with RoundUp or some other product. Mix that with 2,4,D and you will get a much larger kill than you want. I had a tenant do this here several years ago.

In more than 20 years of 2,4,D use I’ve not had problems. I use it, however, strictly IAW label directions, recommended application rates, and good practices (like rinsing out the spray rig before the first tank is used).

But, in good weed management, spraying is part of the program, not the entire program. Your County Agent can help prepare a good program.

G.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info, G. I think that scenario is quite likely.

I very much agree with your last statement-- spraying is just part of the program.