Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses

   / Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses #21  
Econometrics, I see that you are in East Texas. May I ask where? In in Red River county NE Texas. 2 years ago, I put 25 acres into a Native Grass restoration project. The pasture I am attempting to restore was composed of Bahia and Bermuda. Followowing the advice of my wildlife biologist, I first sprayed my field with Roundup (I used generic version - Mad Dog) in June or July, about 2 weeks after I had cut it for hay. I got a little rain and the grass got up about 2-3 inches and was growing very well. It is at this stage that it is most efficiently killed with chemical. Anyway, my pasture turned brown after about 3 weeks. I had a few streaks, but for the most part, I killed it pretty good. The following spring (March) I borrowed the TP&W no till seeder and drilled in the native grass (Big and Little Bluestem, Alamo switch Grass, Indian Grass, etc (Bunch Grass)) As fate would have it, the last 2 summers have been the driest in recent history. Last spring I had an amazing stand of volunteer Ryegrass, (which I cut before warm season grass came in) , followed by a small forest of Goat Weed (Croton, Dove Weed) I shredded the goat weed this fall (October) During the shredding process, I did find some small patches of the native stuff, but not nearly what I had hoped. I have heard from many (regarding native grass restoration) The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, and the third year it leaps. Well, this will be my third year. I cant wait to see what happens. If I do not get an acceptable stand this year, it will be declared a failure and I will be relieved of my obligation in the program. If I have to do it again, I think I will spray first, thin disc, disc, disc and prepare a good firm seed bed before I plant.
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   / Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses
  • Thread Starter
#22  
Wow, that was a great post, pharmvet! Thank you, thank you!

I'm just outside of Tyler, btw. And who is your wildlife biologist? It sounds like we might be dealing with the same group.

It's good to hear you say that if you would do it again, you would disc like crazy. I have a much smaller chunk of land to start this out on (only about 8-10 acres), so I am going to go the disc route either later this fall or late next winter and really hammer the bermuda before I drill in any of the native seeds.

I ended up discing about 5-7 irregular strips 10-12' wide throughout my pasture this past weekend...

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We'll see if that allows anything else to grow up this spring - besides more bermuda! :D

Thanks again for the helpful info, I really, really appreciate it!
 
   / Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses #23  
I would be willing to bet your gonna get a crop of goatweed where ya disced. Good luck with your efforts.
 
   / Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses
  • Thread Starter
#24  
Very possible, but I hope I don't - and I don't think I will. I haven't seen much for goatweed on the property and this has been a strong bermuda pasture for quite a few years without any chemicals sprayed on it.

My hope is that the discing will let some natural plants grow up, then the bermuda will come back in in the summer months. But I could be naive there, ha.

I mostly want to give a chance for some forbs and flowers this spring, then I don't care if it's solid bermuda again all year. I'll tackle that stuff next winter. :D
 
   / Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses #25  
I can't add much to what has already been said, but Bermuda is a very tough adversary once established. I've seen it require multiple applications of glyphosate (about 3-4 weeks apart) to really kill it.
 
   / Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses #26  
Regarding those goat weeds. If Im not mistaken, the seeds will stay in the soil bank for "Years". I too, believe you will get a goat weed crop where you disk. However, thats not all bad for wildlife. Goat weeds provides over cover and allow a clean ground underneath while also providing seed in the fall.
 
   / Disking Bermuda for Native Grasses
  • Thread Starter
#27  
However, thats not all bad for wildlife. Goat weeds provides over cover and allow a clean ground underneath while also providing seed in the fall.

Exactly! Weeds ain't always a bad thing. I guess it just depends on what you're aiming for, ha!
 

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