How late in spring can I do a prairie grass burn?

[lhfarm]

With all the snow and now rain this winter, I don't think I can get a tractor and more importantly a fire (brush) truck out on my prairie grass meadow to do a controlled burn. I think I need a couple of weeks of drying weather. Anyone know how late I can go into the spring to do a burn?

Thanks,

 

[super55]

Burning bans usually go upon relative humidity, weather temps, moisture content etc. There is no set date as to when a burn ban will go into effect.

Your best bet will be call your states DNR or look them up on their website before you plan to burn. I know in Michigan there are different regulations as to burning. Even when there's a burn ban in place for burning brush you can still get a permit for a blanket burn which is what you would be doing. Either way the DNR for us has to issue a permit to burn unless there is snow cover on the ground where we can than burn without a permit.

 

[Western]

I usually burned in mid to late March, but that is here where it is warmer. I would look to burn when the vegetation starts to grow at the ground, below the dead, dry upper grass. I also always plowed a 15'-20' band around the field and always burn into the wind, safer and burns weeds better.

 

[lhfarm]

I usually burned in mid to late March, but that is here where it is warmer. I would look to burn when the vegetation starts to grow at the ground, below the dead, dry upper grass. I also always plowed a 15'-20' band around the field and always burn into the wind, safer and burns weeds better.

No problems with burning anytime as long as inform the fire department. I involve them and they have been extremely helpful. They use the burn as a practice session. I have always heard that late winter (mid-February through mid-March) was the best time to burn, but it is clear that isn't going to happen this year. Just don't want to harm the prairie grass by burning when they are starting to emerge.

Thanks,

 

[Western]

It would only help. Burning at greenup start helps kill some of the weeds, the prairie grass recovers great. The indians did it all the time to rejuvenate grass.

 

[Egon]

It would only help. Burning at greenup start helps kill some of the weeds, the prairie grass recovers great. The indians did it all the time to rejuvenate grass.

With maybe some help from Lightning.

 

[ovrszd]

It would only help. Burning at greenup start helps kill some of the weeds, the prairie grass recovers great. The indians did it all the time to rejuvenate grass.

I agree. I've drove across Kansas in April at night and see fires as far as you can see. When it's too late it won't burn. If it burns, it's okay.

 

[super55]

Ihfarm

you might even be better to hold off on the burning for few weeks. If you can get the cool season grasses in the field to sprout and then burn them off it will give your prairie grasses much less competition starting off. Im agreeing with the others you still got plenty of time to work with.

Nice farm jeep in your display pic. I'm currently restoring a '42 Ford GPW jeep for farting around on the farm and for my dad to putz around on.

 

[lhfarm]

Ihfarm

you might even be better to hold off on the burning for few weeks. If you can get the cool season grasses in the field to sprout and then burn them off it will give your prairie grasses much less competition starting off. Im agreeing with the others you still got plenty of time to work with.

Nice farm jeep in your display pic. I'm currently restoring a '42 Ford GPW jeep for farting around on the farm and for my dad to putz around on.

I'll definitely wait a few more weeks. The weather has been crazy here. It was 70 Tuesday afternoon and 15 outside now. Walking on the meadow is like walking on a sponge.

super55, enjoy the GPW. The jeep pictured is my daily worker. The 3pt hitch is now on my show jeep, but I still pull wagons, haul firewood and just have fun.