I'm a Johnson Grass Farmer

[Alan L.]

I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

I was going to do it right this time. I sprayed roundup on the 3 acres. Twice. Bought a tiller and tilled it up after everything was dead. Waited 3 weeks and tilled it again. No sign of vegetation of any kind, so I planted common bermuda.

That was about May 1st. We haven't had much rain, but I now have the best patch of johnson grass I have ever seen. The grass is 2 feet tall and covers about 1/3 to 1/2 of the 3 acres in patches. There is also some bermuda and some other kind of grass coming in low, mostly where the johnson grass is not.

On one hand, the johnson grass is shading the little bermuda so a lot of it can't get any sun. But if I brush hog the johnson grass, it will be laying on top of the bermuda.

What to do. What to do??

 

[MF1455v]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

Alan, I have used MSMA (monosodium methylarsonate). It's a crab grass killer I bought at the home center. Got it to rid Dallisgrass from my Bermuda. I don't recal it saying it would kill Johnson grass but I have had good luck with it doing so. Mixed according to the instructions it does not effect Bermuda. It might be cost prohibitive on as much Johnson grass as you have. Just my 2 cents worth.

James

 

[Bird]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

Alan, I'll probably never forget fighting Johnson Grass when I was a kid. We cut it with a yo-yo, chopped on it with hoes, and even tried digging the roots out. In later life, I read somewhere that Johnson Grass roots have been found as deep as 30', but don't know whether that is true or not. But I did finally learn that it's easy to kill out if you simply keep it mowed short. Of course, that means frequent mowing for one or two seasons.

 

[Alan L.]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

I have used MSMA before for Dallis grass, but it seems like it contains arsenic, and given the large quantity of it that would be required I have been afraid to use it, as we have a water well nearby.

I have been struggling with the decision of mowing like Bird says, or leaving it til the bermuda gets bigger. Right now it is shading the ground in large areas, which must surely be detrimental to the development of the little bermuda grass plants trying to come up. On the other hand, if I brushhog it, there willl be large amounts of cut grass laying on top of the bermuda.

I think I will give the bermuda one more week and then brush hog it. Hopefully if I get a good stand and keep it mowed the bermuda will eventually choke it out.

In the 4 acres or so that I planted last year, the johnson grass is not near as bad as it was, and the bermuda is doing well.

For future reference, I wonder if it would be a good idea to get the johnson grass going real good and the spray roundup on it, and wait til the following early summer to plant the bermuda? Because in the spring when I was spraying the rooundup, the johnson grass was not up yet.

 

[arthr31]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

hey guys, what is johnson grass? is it similar/like crab? Any pictures of this johnson grass??? Thanks.

 

[froggy]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

This is from the Extension Service:

"If you want to eliminate the Johnson Grass and not the pasture grass get a wick applicator (some are large enough to go on the back of a tractor and some are as small as a stick mop with a small rope on it) and use the concentration recommended for wick application of a glyphosate herbicide (Roundup). It will kill what the wick touches and nothing else. The bigger the Johnson grass the better. Talk with your local farm supply store about the availability of the wick applicator which soaks up and rubs on rather than spraying on. It is more efficient and effective. READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS because NO WAY will you think you're doing any good until the Johnson grass dies several weeks later!"

 

[froggy]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

Here is a picture:

 

[froggy]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

Here is another good resource about controlling Johnson Grass:

Natural Prairies Association of Texs

 

[Alan L.]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

Johnson grass grows tall and fast. Its very course, sorta like corn stalks or Sudan grass. Real hard to kill. I'll try to get a picture of part of my field before I cut it down.

I'm gonna check into that wick/roundup solution. I probably shoulda done that 2 weeks ago.

 

[hobbyfarm]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( hey guys, what is johnson grass? is it similar/like crab? Any pictures of this johnson grass??? Thanks. )</font>

How 'bout we export you some up there?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MMM]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

If I recollect right, Monsanto says cut short and multiple treatments required. It's hard to get rid of.

 

[hobbyfarm]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( now have the best patch of Johnson grass I have ever seen. )</font>

Alan L.,
You'll never get rid of it until you kill the rhizomes about 6-8" underground. That's if you can keep it from going to seed also. It grows just like bermuda grass, procreates from seed, rhizomes, and, vegetatively (although like this, it takes a pretty good size chunk to regrow). MSMA is probably the best chemical defense. If you have the patience, and time, and inclination to have a perfectly JG free area, hand removal of the rhizomes will remove it permanently. I conquered my problem (2 acres) like that. Just dig with a good, sharp fork (no shovel, you'll cut up the rhizomes so small it will have many, many babies!), and try to sift out the rhizomes where ever you find a patch of Johnson grass. Of course, after conquering the JG, I now have another more annoying grass, guinea grass. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[hobbyfarm]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Any pictures of this johnson grass??? )</font>

Here:

Johnsongrass

 

[Bird]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

With grass, it's a little hard to tell much from a single plant, so I like this picture of Johnson Grass a little better, although even it doesn't do justice to a field full of Johnson Grass. We cut a few fields of Johnson Grass for hay when some of it actually was 8' tall and so thick that we discovered some cows in there one day when you couldn't even see them from the tractor seat until you got real close. And I've brush hogged some along the road right of way when it was taller than the ROPS and canopy on my B2710. Incidentally, on the tall stuff, the edges of the grass blades can sure make tiny cuts or scratches in your skin.

 

[arthr31]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

sure! i don't think it'll like the cold much... it's an ugly looking grass!!

 

[hobbyfarm]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

Your right, Bird, that's a better photo. I got the first one that Google spit up.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...although even it doesn't do justice to a field full of Johnson Grass. We cut a few fields of Johnson Grass for hay when some of it actually was 8' tall and so thick that we discovered some cows in there one day when you couldn't even see them from the tractor seat until you got real close.)</font>

That's the truth. While combineing milo it is frustrating to hit a section full of JG. Some of the best combine plug ups were created by just that type of JG stand. Wraps around everything.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Incidentally, on the tall stuff, the edges of the grass blades can sure make tiny cuts or scratches in your skin. )</font>

And, it can itch something terrible.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( sure! i don't think it'll like the cold much... it's an ugly looking grass!! )</font>
arthr31,
You'd be surprised how well it can overwinter. Those rhizomes are pretty deep and hardy.

 

[Alan L.]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

The JG field is now brush hogged. Funny, it does not look like near as much plant material laying on the ground as it did standing up. And, there is quite a bit of bermuda in there! Much of it 6 inches tall.

Hopefully if I keep the JG mowed down the bermuda will squeeze it out. That is some real nasty stuff.

 

[Phred]

Re: I\'m a Johnson Grass Farmer

Alan,

I am trying to remember when johnson grass goes dormant. I have some small patches but the cows will eat it when its cut and baled so I do not worry about it. Besides the frequent cutting seems to be reducing it.

But the reason the dormant time is important is that if it stays green longer or greens up before the bermuda your in luck.
This is the case with fescue.
The result is it is very easy to control fescue in bermuda. You just spray the whole feild with roundup.
I know that sounds like a dumb thing to do, but in the fall and late spring when the bermuda is brown, but the fescue is still green roundup works on fescue, but has no effect on the dormant bermuda.

Fred