Mowing 2 acres-- mulching vs. bagging foxtail residue

[plowhog]

Spent $400 getting a foxtail out of our new pup's ear Friday. So now I am in a war on foxtails.

The foxtails in my pasture is a mixture-- a few areas with many foxtails, and other areas with much fewer but also widely dispersed. Having to deal with them widely dispersed is a challenge no matter what method I try. They are not predominant enough to kill the entire pasture then start over.

I'm pursuing and researching spot herbicide treatments, etc. But I'm also concerned that with pasture mowing, it only cuts off the dreaded foxtail, leaving the hazardous part on the ground.

Is it reasonable to consider bagging and removing the cut debris? I have a little under 2 acres I mow. I have no idea how much debris that would generate if I did rear-discharge into a bagging system. Or even what kind of mower might be best if I chose to do that. But also thinking it might take away some of the hazardous foxtail residue if I do this?

Any thoughts?

 

[2manyrocks]

Foxtail control in pastures and hayground

Foxtail is a problematic grass in pastures and hayground, and infestations need immediate attention. Small infestations of foxtail should be spot treated, while larger infestations require whole pasture renovation. This informational paper describes proper foxtail management and control in a...

extension.oregonstate.edu

Looks like they recommend herbicide and say that mowing just makes seeds on a shorter stalk.

 

[plowhog]

Foxtail control in pastures and hayground

Foxtail is a problematic grass in pastures and hayground, and infestations need immediate attention. Small infestations of foxtail should be spot treated, while larger infestations require whole pasture renovation. This informational paper describes proper foxtail management and control in a...

extension.oregonstate.edu

Looks like they recommend herbicide and say that mowing just makes seeds on a shorter stalk.

I agree. And I am spot treating already.

But I also mow periodically, kicking up and spreading dangerous foxtails even if they are dead. Even when spot treated with herbicide, the dangerous part of the foxtail remains. The alternative is digging them all up.

So I'm curious about bagging that during mowing-- but have no guess about whether that would be effective, or how much volume it might be?

 

[dodge man]

It seems like if you mow it they don’t go to seed? I’m not sure but I don’t think I’ve seen it get the seed heads if mowed regular.

 

[2manyrocks]

Do you already have a bagging mower? If not, I tend to think your best option for fast relief is to maybe spray it and then turn it under with a plow if you have one.

 

[plowhog]

I’m not sure but I don’t think I’ve seen it get the seed heads if mowed regular.

I'm only learning about this myself. But I read that if you mow, the foxtails resprout new heads, just shorter.

So mowing isn't any sort of long term solution. I think that needs to come from herbicide or digging. I'm just trying to hit this every way possible.

I also read that wherever foxtails are, there are probably enough seeds for multiple generations thereafter. So even if you stay on it, it might be several seasons before you have good control.

 

[dodge man]

I had to Google foxtail and dogs to understand all the problems. I’m pretty sure I see it around here just not in my yard. I spray for weeds but to be honest my yard is never close to weed free.

 

[dodge man]

Went for a walk tonight and saw this alongside my driveway. Just a couple inches high. It’s probably one of those things that sprouts in my yard on occasion and I just don’t notice. I don’t see much of it though.

 

[2manyrocks]

I hadn't given it much thought, either, until this thread. But saw some in our fenced dog area which I just pulled up.

 

[Torvy]

I don't remember this being a problem growing up. Every pasture had a ton of foxtail. I don't see it down here though. Never even heard of problems for dogs. They're a PITA at times with some clothes. What's changed?

 

[TractorTech]

Foxtails are hard to distinguish from other grasses until the seed heads appear, then it's too late. They tend to grow flat to the ground, so hard to mow the main plant.

We have lots and lots of foxtails. Ww have had about 4 incidents requiring vet tobtreat our dogs overvthe last 30 years. I would love to eliminate them. I have noticed that they can be displaced by other grasses in healthy soil. However, in California, healthy grasses require watering

 

[redman135]

I had never heard of "foxtail" and I googled it, I got "barley grass"(New Zealand term) Further down I on post # 8 by dodge man, The photo is of what looks like "yellow bristle grass", and other descriptions are of yellow bristle grass( seed head grows back, just smaller). BUT the description by the OP match that of barley grass. In sheep it will get into the wool and work its way into and through the skin and into the meat. Very painfull. Seeds can also get under the eyelid and irritate the eye causing blindness.

Can the OP identify the species which he has please?

The reason for exact ID is because each requires a different spray and follow up treatment.

Both are spread on livestock and machinery, eg mower, and in hay. If you make silage, it MUST be ensialed for 8 weeeks to kill the seed.
OP if you bag and dump, dump on a dry spot AWAY from water as the grass sap is highly concentrated and will cause a local algal bloom in a pond or swamp. This will make it easy to control the subsequent sprouting.

 

[plowhog]

I will get some pictures ...

 

[TractorTech]

Redman135, you spurred me to research this as it is a problem. Common name: Hare Barley. Great read from UC Davis on it.

https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural%20areas/wr_H/Hordeum_marinum-murinum.pdf

 

[nyone]

Since mowing just makes a shorter plant I dont see how mowing and bagging will help.

Have you thought about planting something that will grow faster and taller than the plant your trying to remove?

 

[plowhog]

Common name: Hare Barley. Great read from UC Davis on it.

Still working on pix, but this looks identical to one of the varieties we have.

 

[plowhog]

Since mowing just makes a shorter plant I dont see how mowing and bagging will help.

Have you thought about planting something that will grow faster and taller than the plant your trying to remove?

The bagging would be to reduce exposure while other methods work on eradication or reduction.

Looking at my property, I see little foxtail in the greenest healthiest parts of the pasture. But where there are intermixed dirt spots, meaning less than good coverage, the foxtails really seem to pop up there.

One method I am considering is glyphosate in a spray bottle, spot killing, then dirt or mulch on top to prevent regrowth. Monitor and spray again if it pops up again-- which is likely.

 

[plowhog]

fyi I was told that using Imazapyr is effective, but this is only possible in spring as pre-emergent.

 

[dodge man]

I probably wouldn’t spot spray with Roundup. Even if your careful you’ll end up with a dead spot and for me that means weeds take over that little area.

 

[2manyrocks]

A friend got rid of Johnson grass growing in his Bermuda hay field by wicking herbicide onto the Johnson grass which grew taller than the Bermuda. He set the wick bar high enough that the herbicide was applied to the taller growing Johnson grass.