Plowing tall grass

[VroomVroom]

The grass is relatively tall. I don’t have a mower. How will this fair out if I take a plow to it. It use to be a hay field

 

[VroomVroom]

Single bottom plow. Mahindra 2816hst. Colter

 

[Have tractor did travel]

That tractor is 28 hp, with 21 hp at the PTO. That grass looks thick and coarse. You have a lot to do.
Since all you want to do is cut the grass, I would not consider, this late in the season for Newfoundland, plowing. Find a bush hog and expect to cut with 3 foot bites. I don't think the tractor can handle any more, even in low range.
Other posts speak to how to set up the bush hog for most efficiency.

 

[oosik]

No matter the time of year - I would never consider just plowing. Mow it down first - then plow. Trying to just plow - you will end up with a big mess.

 

[oldnslo]

Depending on how well the coulter works and how tangled the grass is it might plow just fine or it might be a tangled mess. Try a pass or two and you will know. Just note there is no way all of that cover will be turned under.

 

[LouNY]

It will not plow properly without being mowed first.

 

[VroomVroom]

Ok. Thanks fellows. There is a guy not far from there that usually has a garden. But he had gardens there for several years do not sure if he moves it much.
Problem is I don’t have a Bush hog. And around these parts most never did.
I wonder if they didn’t just plow in the spring when everything is flattened?

 

[VroomVroom]

 

[Elvenhome21]

Burn it. It's wide open so no real hazard. All you need is a fire break. If all I had was a plow, I'd section it off in a couple squares with 10 foot plowed edges for a fire break to keep it under control.

 

[nybirdman]

Cut,spray with glyphosate and plow;there are no short-cuts.

 

[VroomVroom]

Jeeze. Hard news. Not sure what they did one time. But then again it was mostly hay and gardens were probably fine closer to home and ground was probably tore up previously.

 

[VroomVroom]

Curious. It would look nicer. Probably prevent the grass and weeds from standing up and growing again , but what difference do it make? I was thinking mostly to plow to lift up the hard sod so I could till it in the spring. This would chew any remaining weeds wouldn’t it?

I’m thinking a spring burn and plow might be only option. No one had a mower around here.

 

[Big Barn]

Your answer has been covered by all the previous members who offered advice.

 

[RickB]

Cut,spray with glyphosate and plow;there are no short-cuts.

Having a thick mat of cut material lying on top of short stubble then spraying with herbicide that requires contact with actively growing plants is a waste of money. If you are going to use glyphosohate that is Step 1.

 

[jeff9366]

I wonder if they didn’t just plow in the spring when everything is flattened?

Traditionally northern soils are plowed in the Fall prior to first frost. Then early Spring thaw/freeze/thaw cycles deconstruct the clay soil and clods.

 

[Egon]

Ahh, just go ahead and plow it. Next spring it will be perfect for a disc.

The tractor should handle a two bottom plow with ease.

 

[VroomVroom]

You fellows in ns plow this early or later in fall egon? Getting many ticks your way?

 

[Big Barn]

Ahh, just go ahead and plow it. Next spring it will be perfect for a disc.

The tractor should handle a two bottom plow with ease.

More like the two bottom plow will plug up with ease, lift itself out of the ground as high as the three point lift arms will allow and drag along behind the tractor.

 

[Egon]

You fellows in ns plow this early or later in fall egon? Getting many ticks your way?

lots of ticks.

Plowing seems to have gone out of style with the advent of the much higher HP tractors.

My expieriences come from many years ago in western Canada At a time when a WD9 was one of the higher HP tractors in use. The plow were also the pull type. Only three point you’d see was an 8N.

 

[Diggin It]

No one had a mower around here.

I would imagine shipping to the island would be pretty high, but if you got one, could you hire out to make some of your money back?