Wicking Johnson Grass

[Red Robin]

I thought I'd post a couple pics of Johnson grass a few days after we wicked it with round up. I wonder how it'd work on soapweed or swamp grass to wick it? If it sticks up above the crop I can't see why it wouldn't work. This is a hay field I'll cut for some second cutting hay but I hate that big johnsongrass stem in my hay so I wicked it.

 

[Mike]

Probably have to hit 1 or 2 more times before it's all gone.

We use Maverick in the Bermuda fields.

A solid field of johnsongrass makes great hay but it grows so much faster than the other grasses, it's not very compatible is it?

 

[kolanuraven]

This year we can not afford to waste ANY thing grass like ( :shock: :lol: :lol: ) so no matter the height it gets cut!! We can't be picky!

 

[Red Robin]

Probably have to hit 1 or 2 more times before it's all gone.

We use Maverick in the Bermuda fields.

A solid field of johnsongrass makes great hay but it grows so much faster than the other grasses, it's not very compatible is it?

Yep, in the bottom pic you can see one plant that was too short to hit the wick. The advantage is Mike this cost about 50Cents in this field per acre. A pretty solid stand cost a dollar an acre or a little more maybe. It's pretty cost effective way to control it. KRaven I have been in your situation in the middle 90's . 96 or 97 maybe I'd have sure been glad to have a solid field of Johnson grass or any thing else that was green. Like Mike said though the only way to manage Johnson grass is kill it or plant it.

 

[Frankk]

RR I have not had much luck with round up, it will burn back for sure but will come right back from the rhizome. I was doing spot treatments with spray rather than wick, maybe to quick of a burn down?

 

[Red Robin]

Frank I wicked a small new bermuda field. It was 32 acres. The next year there was very little Johnson grass in it. They grazed it the following year though so it wasn't a very good test. This field will be a real good test. I don't graze it except in the fall and winter. I'll keep you posted. I have another seed field that I wicked though and it killed it out mostly for 3 or 4 years. It's coming back and I need to wick it too but it sure knocked it way back for several years. It seems to work for me.

 

[Denny]

This year we can not afford to waste ANY thing grass like ( :shock: :lol: :lol: ) so no matter the height it gets cut!! We can't be picky!

Smart ranchers treat every year like that no matter how much hay there is just keep baleing...