FCSpringer
Moderator
Well I have burnt out my welcome with many on this subject. But many will thank me later and have now, by being warned before they plant. Unfortunately I knew, and still ended up with Canada rye in my field. I rented a drill from the USDA who lazily did not clean the junk seed out when it got to me. So my carefully planned planting now became polluted with this deadly toxin called Canada wild rye, Virgina rye and others. Any way, here is a plan to restore your hunting ground to its dog friendly state you intended it to be. That is if you pheasant hunt any way, or own a preserve, allow others or what have you. It is your future and if you wish to keep your business prosperous going forward, you need to think about this subject. Dog owners value their dogs dang near as much as the kids in their homes. They will seek places with out seeds that kill, and the more the word gets out, the less business one will have who owns fields riddled with the plant life pollutant.
Here is what I did. First talked to the grower who supplied me my seed. Who is also one of the largest native seed producers in the nation. He basically told me do not panic. Here is what you do. First green up in the spring will be cold season grasses. After about 2-3 weeks the warm season grasses will begin to germinate. This gives you a 2 week window to kill off the toxic killer seeds. Mow or bail a large section, or the entire area you want to make dog safe. Get rid of the bails. Give it away, burn it whatever. When things green up like your yard grass, brome grass in the ditch and else where. Wait about 1-2 weeks for that green up to take off. Then spray the entire thing with a good killing solution of roundup. And fear not. Your warm season grass is not harmed. Nothing that has not germinated is killed. The warms come up later and flourish better. Then mow or bail the stand at the first sight of seed development. Mow at a height of 10- 16". June seems to be a good time here for re growth. Then let her grow again. You will get a great regrowth with out unwanted seeds. Repeat this process 2-3 years straight. And you will have a clean field again. Then after that if a small spot spray is needed just do that. The down fall is, you kill many broad leaf and some flower plants. But, you can buy pure seed cheap and replace good flowers in a short time. With no flowers I still had great grasshopper habitants and other insects. Had nesting birds and birds here now. it worked for me and can you too if timed right. it is relatively easy. And I get to enjoy it every day. One last spray this spring, and I will re intro my flowers.:thumbsup:
Here is what I did. First talked to the grower who supplied me my seed. Who is also one of the largest native seed producers in the nation. He basically told me do not panic. Here is what you do. First green up in the spring will be cold season grasses. After about 2-3 weeks the warm season grasses will begin to germinate. This gives you a 2 week window to kill off the toxic killer seeds. Mow or bail a large section, or the entire area you want to make dog safe. Get rid of the bails. Give it away, burn it whatever. When things green up like your yard grass, brome grass in the ditch and else where. Wait about 1-2 weeks for that green up to take off. Then spray the entire thing with a good killing solution of roundup. And fear not. Your warm season grass is not harmed. Nothing that has not germinated is killed. The warms come up later and flourish better. Then mow or bail the stand at the first sight of seed development. Mow at a height of 10- 16". June seems to be a good time here for re growth. Then let her grow again. You will get a great regrowth with out unwanted seeds. Repeat this process 2-3 years straight. And you will have a clean field again. Then after that if a small spot spray is needed just do that. The down fall is, you kill many broad leaf and some flower plants. But, you can buy pure seed cheap and replace good flowers in a short time. With no flowers I still had great grasshopper habitants and other insects. Had nesting birds and birds here now. it worked for me and can you too if timed right. it is relatively easy. And I get to enjoy it every day. One last spray this spring, and I will re intro my flowers.:thumbsup:
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But the good news is all the rest and by far the larger amount of acres of my plantings are free of rye.:thumbsup:
