Mowing 2 acres-- mulching vs. bagging foxtail residue

[plowhog]

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.

I hear ya, but I can't find good alternatives ...

 

[scootr]

Been fighting foxtail grass for 40 yrs. It's a blight in so Cal. We nearly eradicated it from our fenced yard area by pulling it and disposing of it in the dumpster over 25 yrs. The rest of the property is lousy with it. The dogs are restricted to the fenced 2 acres around the house where it is nearly gone.

 

[plowhog]

pulling it and disposing of it in the dumpster over 25 yrs.

I read that eradication is a long term issue but .... dang!!!

 

[AaronD81]

We bought a place 3 years ago with pastures full of foxtail. We've been spraying a preemergent, Prowl H2O, and it's helped a lot. We started spraying late winter, March in PA, and still got germination in fall so last year and this year we added a second application in June/July. Mowing won't work, it just generates seed heads at ground level. Also, seeds can lay dormant for several years so even Roundup and plowing isn't a guaranteed solution, we're likely going to need to keep spraying for a couple more years.

Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Yellow Foxtail and Green Foxtail

Yellow foxtail [Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. and Schult] and green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.] are warm season summer annual grass weeds that invade low-maintenance lawns, parks, grounds, roadsides, and new turf establishments.

extension.psu.edu

 

[plowhog]

we're likely going to need to keep spraying for a couple more years.

From what I have read I agree. And from what I read spray is only effective early in the season.

Here is a pix of several foxtails-- two different varieties I think.

 

[TractorTech]

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.

Digging it out and disposing of the plant after seed heads appear or spot spraying before the seed heads appear will result in the same thing, a hole where the plant was, which is better than the foxtail occupying that space and multiplying. Seeding those bare spots next year will allow competition to possibly choke out the foxtails. With little rain in California though, foxtails will beat out anything that requires more moisture.

 

[kneedeep]

Spray it scorched earth and then do a controlled burn. Prep the soil, lime, fertilizer for a good seedbed.
Plant you a preferred grass and keep it watered to smother everything out.

 

[TractorTech]

Spray it scorched earth and then do a controlled burn. Prep the soil, lime, fertilizer for a good seedbed.
Plant you a preferred grass and keep it watered to smother everything out.

Even in Northern California, that last part about keeping it watered might not work.

 

[TractorGunn]

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 r sduring mowing-- but have no guess about whether that would be effective, or how much volume it might be?

Around here firefighters love to have a controlled burn of fields for those who volunteer to do so. Would that help your situation?

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Pastora, or MSM will kill foxtail, I have used both in hayfields with good results, I believe Impose will kill it as well.