Eradicating Fescue

[wayacoyote]

We have 14 acres of fescue which we want to convert to native forage grasses, forbs and legumes. Our state fish and wildlife website recommends spraying herbicides on the fescue as One option. We're not going to do that as we are also applying for "organic hay" status. The alternative is a method of burning, planting with a "kill crop" and disking. It sounds do-able, but I wondered if anyone here has any experience in this area.

[Hillside]

A neighbor of mine has been trying to reclaim his property as a prairie. He's been working on it for about five years now and is making progress, but he still has a lot of non-native stuff growing there. He's been burning, planting, and seeding like a wild man.

I don't have any specific advice, but I'd sure like to know how your project progresses. Keep us posted.

[Hambone]

If you have a boom sprayer you can spray it with 10% vinegar. It cost about $2 a gallon. Not sure how far a gallon will cover. I would buy a gallon put it in a pump up sprayer and do a small patch and see how it works. You should see results 24-48 hours. If it works, spray all of it, disc it, and respray again. If the cost is not to much. The good thing about vingar spray is it brakes down right after you spray it. So you can disc or spray right after. There is a really good oranic guy here in Noth Texas. Howard Garrett. His website is www.dirtdoctor.com He also has a radio show on the weekend here. I think it streams through the web so you could listen. You could call in then to ask him about your situation. Every week I here people call in from all over the U.S.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

I had brome grass choking out my clover and alfalfa for three years. The only way we could get it killed, and it didn't work totally, was two applications of Roundup.

[dragonfly]

Just plant some Johnsongrass. That will get rid of anything;)

[MollySue'sHoney]

I'll gladly ship you some kudzu. It'll get it done. Makes a pretty good honey, too.

[dcross]

Won't it leave a heck of a seed bank in the soil?

[cow pollinater]

I dumped all of my leftover Hairy Vetch seed in my orchard after I got done seeding the pasture. When overseeded and not grazed, that stuff will pull down and choke just about anything and the bees seem to work it well enough.