A friend of mine is currently looking at a boarding facility that has an outdoor with grass/weeds growing in it. The owner said she would kill the weeds before she would move there. Is it possible to kills weeds growing in an arena when the whole thing is taken over? Also could there be something in the base that would make the arena not good to jump in etc?
Thanks in advance
Meh, the arena where I board was overgrown when I moved there. They disked it and it was fine. Looks just like a real arena now. 
Usually a sign of lack of care. Have moved into a few barns with overgrown rings (varying amounts). A good amount of Round Up, very thorough dragging, and some time always gets rid of them.
The biggest issue with the footing would be that it is probably hard (for the same reason it is growing weeds), which, may not be the best for riding on. Usually, rings like this come back pretty well.
[QUOTE=yellowbritches;6274841]
Usually a sign of lack of care. Have moved into a few barns with overgrown rings (varying amounts). A good amount of Round Up, very thorough dragging, and some time always gets rid of them.
The biggest issue with the footing would be that it is probably hard (for the same reason it is growing weeds), which, may not be the best for riding on. Usually, rings like this come back pretty well.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for your input. I’ve never seen anything like this before. I haven’t seen the sand to say what the quality is.
I have a small sand arena at home, and I only ride one horse a couple times a week in it. When I took a summer off it did get some weeds, but a few times over with the drag and they were gone (or just ripped up and mixed in). It doesn’t take much to keep them under control. Just my riding and a drag every month is all. I wouldn’t worry about the weeds, be more concerned with how/when they plan to drag it b/c a rock hard sand outdoor is useless.
I agree with others…it is very easy to remove weeds from an outdoor arena with a little roundup and some grooming, but the bigger issue is that this barn probably is not grooming the arena at all for this to happen. Even very expensive, nice footing needs regular grooming to be in good condition for riding. Do they have the proper equipment to drag the ring?
For weeds in my arena I use loose salt from feed store. Changes the ph in the sand and kills anything that grows. Salt is cheaper and safer for the horses, cats and dogs. I usually buy in in 50lb bags and use a lawn spreader to put it down. Works great on driveways too!
[QUOTE=BeeHoney;6275251]
I agree with others…it is very easy to remove weeds from an outdoor arena with a little roundup and some grooming, but the bigger issue is that this barn probably is not grooming the arena at all for this to happen. Even very expensive, nice footing needs regular grooming to be in good condition for riding. Do they have the proper equipment to drag the ring?[/QUOTE]
What BeeHoney said…
[QUOTE=Atigirl;6275724]
For weeds in my arena I use loose salt from feed store. Changes the ph in the sand and kills anything that grows. Salt is cheaper and safer for the horses, cats and dogs. I usually buy in in 50lb bags and use a lawn spreader to put it down. Works great on driveways too![/QUOTE]
How much salt do you use?
When I moved here my sand arena was basically taken over with weeds and grass. I had it disked and now drag weekly during growing season. I have to or the weeds start peeping through again, which is fine most of the time – I would drag anyway – but inconvenient when I am out of town on business or vacation. I would love to solve that problem with salt so that I can ensure they don’t come back!
BTW, Roundup and grooming was not sufficient to redo my overgrown ring. Disking was required to reset the process. Roundup and grooming can keep it nice but you need those roots dislodged.
Atigirl!! Thank you! As an IPM person (Integrated Pest Management) I LOATHE the instant use of round up… Did anyone know you can get the same if not better control from vinegar, salt and a bit of dish soap?
Cultural and physical control first, people… then use the chemicals only if needed!
I did not…formula if you please so I can don armor and attack my various infestations with impunity instead of dread 
What about the base?
If the arena is overgrown and “lumpy,” could that mean that things have grown through the compacted base layer that’s presumably under there?
And when you talk about discing it… how do you make sure that you don’t mess up the base? I’ve never pulled a disc over a “real” arena – is it hard enough that the implement doesn’t try to cut into it but just chops up the upper layers?
(I am in the beginning stages of a DIY arena – it’s cleared, but I’m still battling sweet gum roots. Until those are out I don’t dare try to level and compact it, they’ll just keep breaking through. Meanwhile, I take the disc and/or box blade up there occasionally and go 'round and 'round and back and forth.)
wsmoak, I had my disc guy set the disc not to go into the base, so just a few inches deep, just the surface sand. Discs are adjustable, at least this one was. He used a Bobcat attachment. Not being a horse person he thought I was crazy because I “wasn’t going to get all the roots” but I explained how I needed the sand not to mix with the clay. He got it and did what I said. I supervised closely at first to ensure he wasn’t going to mess it up. Only a couple small fist-size clumps of base got into the sand in the whole project, and they were easy to pick out.
If your base isn’t done, you might consider discing the whole thing and then rolling it. I didn’t have tree roots to deal with, just some pretty substantial weeds with tap roots.
After discing, I ran the drag and raked out debris, ran the drag and raked out debris, ad nauseum. We also have icy winters here and can’t ride much, so it had plenty of time to settle over the winter and have matter rot out – at first it was a touch deeper than I wanted but I had it done in November and by this spring it was nice, not deep at all.
On that note, be prepared to get out there with a concrete rake and rake the plant matter out as best you can after disking and levelling. I took out a number of tractor buckets full.
This will only be relevant if you have serious weed overgrowth. I am still interested to hear about adding the salt as a permanent deterrent, I hope that poster chimes back in.
I’m going on 6 years with my ring and no weeds. And mine is in the middle of a pasture. I’d be wondering what the weeds are growing in.
In my case, clay. My ring has a clay base with river sand on it. Not my preference but I bought the farm with the ring here, and I don’t have the budget right now to redo it. That and expanding it will be on the 25 year plan after the kids get out of college but at this point not happening any time soon.
[QUOTE=JP60;6276498]
I did not…formula if you please so I can don armor and attack my various infestations with impunity instead of dread :)[/QUOTE]
1 gallon vinegar, 1 cup salt, 1 Tbsp dish-soap. From what I read, the vinegar with kill the weeds, and the salt will prevent growth in the future.
Can also use: 1 gallon of 10-20% pickling vinegar + 2 oz. orange oil + a squirt of dish soap works like Round-Up. This will kill any leaf you get it on; works best on a hot sunny day; can wear rubber gloves. Don’t leave it in your sprayer for long because it will eat up the seal; wash sprayer thoroughly after use. Can put mixture on a sponge and wipe it on the plants you want to kill; will start working immediately, but will have to treat Bermuda grass again. Can plant new plants the next day after treating the weeds. Won’t hurt trees, even if you get it on the trunk, but don’t get it on the leaves.
I’d also be interested
I’d also be interested in hearing more about the salt solution. Here in Kentucky, I’m constantly struggling to keep my ring from getting overrun with weeds. Thanks!
I’m also interested in the salt. I sprayed everything last year with roundup before putting down sand. Now it looks like it was never done. How much salt is needed and what type? The kind you use as an ice melter? water softener salt? At what rate do you put it down? What time of the season is best to kill and prevent? Thanks for some feedback
The problem with weeds being killed and left to decompose is that they, like other organic material, eventually become dust. It would be better if that they were disced and then removed. Simply discing or spraying and then allowing them to stay there or be turned under will perpetuate a dust issue.
I guess I’m the only one who mows the weeds and then values them for keeping the dust down ;).
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
