Getting rid of canary grass?

[cyclonenation10]

Any experience succesfully getting rid of canary grass, or atleast turning it into more productive upland habitat for a few years? For example, I've heard of the IA DNR mowing/burning, spraying (after the grass starts to come back in), then running a disc through the ground to promote the growth of new plants ( ragweed, forbes, other grasses, etc.). Anyone ever tried this? Any tips? I was also thining about trying to spray the troublesome areas at our farm and try seeding a switch grass mix, since most of the problem areas are relatively wet and do flood on occasion.

 

[Huede]

I usually check with the Iowa State Ext Office or your local NRCS. They can be helpful sometimes with this.

 

[WDH]

I have some low ground on my farm in South Dakota that sounds similar to yours (wet/floods, probably claypan soils) To control the reed canary grass I spray it with a grass killer (clethodim, same stuff I use to kill grasses in sunflowers). I spray in strips, to keep some cover. I tried disking it after spraying, but the only thing that came up was Canada thistle. I have started planting a cover crop mix (sorghum/Sudan grass/turnips/sunflower/etc.) in the sprayed-out strips with a no till drill.
Switchgrass is awesome cover, but it does not like "wet feet". Any flooding or prolonged wet soils will kill it. I have used tall wheatgrass in some areas, seems to withstand wet soils fairly well and it reestablishes itself quickly.

 

[3car]

I've sprayed it with glyphosate before hoping to just get some annuals to replace it then disked. Bear River NWR uses a giant Marsh Master to spray Phrag and uses a quad track and disc afterwards to tear up the roots. It works but costly and labor intensive.