Milk Weed problems

[Happy Gilmore]

Hello all, just looking for info regarding controlling or eradicating Milk Weed, we have multiple problem areas in our fields that need attention. Any suggestions or experience in killing it off.

Other problematic weeds we have are Dock Weed and Queen Ann's Lace.

 

[EMB5530]

Hey, at least ya got food for the honey bee's right.
Just tryin to be a glass half full kinda guy.

 

[MH8675309]

Mow them (brush hog sickle bar etc) before they go to seed. This works with lots of things like thistles and other unwanted growth. It will take a few years to notice but it does work. We had thistle problems but there are hardly any now. And if I see one I just cut it down.

 

[Texasmark]

Agree on mowing before making the pod. Have tried MSMA, Glyphosphate, and 2-4-D, all with limited success. I can ****** their growth but they remain. If you stay after it you can notice improvement and if you look around at unattended fields you can see what you get if you don't.

Now here's the bummer. Only one of my neighbors somewhat maintains their place. The rest don't and when their seed pods burst and release the parachutes floating out onto your maintained pasture knowing the results, it really gets under your skin.

Mark

 

[oosik]

Hmmm..... Don't you have any deer in your area? Here the whitetail eat them like I was trying to grow them as a cash crop. Seldom see them develop into much and even less often are they around to go to seed.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Hmmm..... Don't you have any deer in your area? Here the whitetail eat them like I was trying to grow them as a cash crop. Seldom see them develop into much and even less often are they around to go to seed.

More deer than I need, way more. They don't bother with the milkweed unfortunately, but they love the Timothy and Orchard crop.

 

[AchingBack]

Where I live, folks are avidly planting milkweed seeds in an effort to replace mowed over, built over, milkweed populations which are a vital habitat for the monarch butterfly. Because milkweed is an edible plant, I don't see what the harm is in letting small patches grown On our property there are several scattered stands of it. Wherever I mow it, it just goes away like most any plant does. Out in the garden, and in the meadow where we let it grow and it receives adequate water, it is a visual treat to just sit and watch the various flying insects attracted to it.

The only time milkweed ever bothered me was when I didn't understand its reason to exist in the food chain.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

I agree the insects it attracts are cool. The problem I have with it is hay customers aren't fond of it in the baled hay.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Where I live, folks are avidly planting milkweed seeds in an effort to replace milkweed populations which gave habitat to the monarch butterfly. Because milkweed is an edible plant, I don't see what the harm is in letting small patches grown. On our property there are several scattered stands of it. Wherever I mow it, it just goes away like most any plant does. Out in the garden where we let it grow and it receives adequate water, it is a visual treat to just sit and watch the various flying insects attracted to it.

I can always skip haying and harvest milkweed seed pods for export :shocked:

 

[MH8675309]

Because milkweed is an edible plant, I don't see what the harm is in letting small patches grown On our property there are several scattered stands of it.

It is toxic to goats and not so good for horses either.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

Google; Bromac Advanced
Its made by Loveland.
It has MCPA and Bromoxynil as active ingredients.
Wipes out milkweed and other hardy weeds in hay forage fields.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Just point out where the milkweed grows to the natural foods people.
They love harvesting the shoots while they're less than 3 inches tall to cook just like asparagus.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Just point out where the milkweed grows to the natural foods people.
They love harvesting the shoots while they're less than 3 inches tall to cook just like asparagus.

What I have in some areas would make many a side dish

 

[Dr_Zinj]

That's a rather interesting thought.

Does anyone on this forum actually RAISE milkweed as a human consumption health food vegetable for sale?

 

[AKfish]

I've used Diacamba with very good results on difficult broad-leaf weeds like milkweed. Also works well on hard to kill perennial weeds that spread by underground root systems - rhizomones - Queen Anne's lace.

Mowing Queen Anne's lace will not eliminate it. Aggressive mowing that weakens the beneficial perennials can allow the QAL to spread and dominate.

AKfish

 

[powerscol]

If your county has a weed agent and weed program give them a call, especially about your neighbors. Another place to check is you local State agg service. I got the best advice from my local COOP. The sold me something labeled spectracide - it was a fortified 2-4-D product. Worked very well. But be careful 2-4-D will also take out clover and alpha.

 

[RalphVa]

You can send them to me, if you can get them up with their tap root entire.

Bushhogging them before they go to seed is the safest.

Would not advise using any kind of herbicide, particularly 2 or 3 that have been advocated by the inventors to give you beautiful pastures. You'll never be able to sell your hay or straw or manure because word will get around that gardeners cannot use these products for their gardens because they kill their plantings.

We've had reports from clients (at the extension office helpline) who've had kills of vegetation from toxic straw bales and manure. Some herbicides can last a long time.

Ralph

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Harvest them before they get 3 inches tall and sell them to the organic markets. They're edible like asparagus or spinach at that stage.

 

[RalphVa]

Hello all, just looking for info regarding controlling or eradicating Milk Weed, we have multiple problem areas in our fields that need attention. Any suggestions or experience in killing it off.

Other problematic weeds we have are Dock Weed and Queen Ann's Lace.

You can send me the seed pods. I eradicated a patch down below along the creek by bringing seed pods from them up to an area where I turned lawn into milkweed patch. Also dug up little one less than 3 to 6 inches high. Got to get them before they send the tap root down. Otherwise, they don't transplant too well.

Want to establish a patch? Don't even need to clear the grass. Just keep supplying some seeds or transplant some little ones. The patch down below took place in some very thick fescue. Up here, I killed the fescue first and then put down newspaper and finally mulch.

Ralph