Need Weed Advice

[tjus77]

I don't hay, but I have horses and I'm currently rotating three, 3 acre pastures. Due to circumstances and the fact that horses can be picky SOB's, I have an area that is over grazed in one pasture and since we keep missing the rain, weeds are beginning to sprout. Should I just keep mowing, or should I spray this late in the season (if there is such a thing as too late in the season regarding weeds).

Also, next spring..... what is the schedule for fertilizing and weeding? I've heard all kinds of answers from non-pros. Mostly, don't spray anything until the spring/winter weeds die off? What say you? I'm just looking for some thicker growth in one of my pastures that was definitely over grazed before we bought the place and less weeds (which are not terrible yet).

Thanks! If this is the wrong place for this post I apologize.

TJ

 

[foreman Etexas]

Do you have any type of winter grass? I ask this cause even thou it's later in year if you spray something like Grazon P+D it will kill the weeds you have now and stay in the ground to get later weeds also but will mess with clover and such,this late with it's residual. I usually let the weather and watch the weeds on my time of spraying and fertilizing. Once I see goatweed/rawsen them type starting up then I will go in and spray. Now your summer grass like coastal/Bermuda the ground temps need to be around the 70deg mark at night before they really start to grow and rain in forecast is when I fertilize. I don't have set schedule,wish I could say when to do but every year is alittle different.

 

[foreman Etexas]

2-4D also works good on killing the weeds you have now and has no residual and you do not need a license like the Grazon but will need spray probably twice. I find also if you go in with some type drag to spread the horse crap around it will help your grass,nothing real aggressive that tears the ground up.Mowing just make the pasture look good and spread the seeds around and cut what grass your horse's could be eating,unless your just topping it. I went and got my license and bought my own sprayer so could do what I wonted to when and where I wonted and have paid my sprayer off from the cost saved from getting someone else to come do it. For your size place 150gallon 3pt sprayer would work with one tank and with either 2-4d or Grazon,1,1.5gallons of chemical for an idea. Do you have ag store around that's does the liquid spraying/fertilizing?

 

[tjus77]

thanks for the info. I do drag... mostly in the non mowing months. I just top the pastures (picky horses don't like to eat tall grass) unless I find a really weedy patch, then I cut it short. I have some rye grass here and there during the winter.

 

[foreman Etexas]

It would be okay to spray now if just rye,with Grazon. What are they being picky about eating? Bahia? I tie my 12ft drag behind my 12ft mower,when I go in and clean up some of my cattle pastures early spring