Plantings for weed control/suppression

[HawkinsHollow]

I cleared a bunch of land last fall. Well as spring and summer approached I got super busy building my shop and just let it go wild all summer. Needless to say it is now a JUNGLE of weeds. Some 7' tall and so thick you can hardly walk through it. I am slowly getting it under control now that the shop is dried in, but my goal is to not let that happen again. What sorts of things can I plant in the spring to keep the weeds down over the summer. If I am going to go through the work I want it to be easier to deal with and maybe be beneficial to animals, polinators, birds etc. I realize I am going to have to bush hog otherwise the weeds will take back over. I am looking for some sort of perennial that is better that a bunch of random weeds. Perennial so I don't have to do this every year. This land is in a creek bottom so it floods a couple of times a year. Any suggestions wise TBNers?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I just wanted to add that I considered doing buckwheat, but that is not a perennial. But worst case it would do that job for a year.

 

[old and tired]

I let the weeds do their thing... only mow once a year in late Feb. when no wildlife is using our "pasture". I will spray the Black Walnut trees during the summer (they are the worst weeds that I have). At this time in my life, I don't have a use or need for the pasture - that might change when (if) I retire!!!

 

[homesteader13]

I just wanted to add that I considered doing buckwheat, but that is not a perennial. But worst case it would do that job for a year.

If you planted buckwheat, did you plan on harvesting it?
If not and you let it go winter would knock it down and it would reseed naturaly in the spring.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I let the weeds do their thing... only mow once a year in late Feb. when no wildlife is using our "pasture". I will spray the Black Walnut trees during the summer (they are the worst weeds that I have). At this time in my life, I don't have a use or need for the pasture - that might change when (if) I retire!!!

Thanks for your reply. It isn't really a pasture per se. It is a corridor through our bottom land around a pond. It is much nicer looking and more enjoyable when there are not 7' weeds everywhere. It is a work in progress still need to clear more. I am just tyring to plan and implement a strategy to keep this area looking nicer and more usable throughout the year.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

If you planted buckwheat, did you plan on harvesting it?
If not and you let it go winter would knock it down and it would reseed naturaly in the spring.

No I would not harvest it. So it sounds like that is an option then.

 

[tallfreak]

I just planted crimson clover on about an acre. Im using it for erosion and weed control. It's cheap at $60 for 50lbs of inoculated seed. With a seeding rate of 10-15lbs per acre.

It grows in thick and suppresses other vegetation plus its beautiful when its blooming and deer and bees love it. It grows up to about 20 inches tall. Its an annual but it reseeds if left alone.

Its worth looking into for your application. It might be too late to plant this fall but you can plant early spring.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I just planted crimson clover on about an acre. Im using it for erosion and weed control. It's cheap at $60 for 50lbs of inoculated seed. With a seeding rate of 10-15lbs per acre.

It grows in thick and suppresses other vegetation plus its beautiful when its blooming and deer and bees love it. It grows up to about 20 inches tall. Its an annual but it reseeds if left alone.

Its worth looking into for your application. It might be too late to plant this fall but you can plant early spring.

Thanks for your reply! I like the idea of clover as well, good for deer and pollinators. It can handle some shade as well. This area is not wide open, has intermittent trees.

 

[mikester]

Any suggestions wise TBNers?

Call the weeds wild flowers and enjoy the view

 

[Diggin It]

Check with your Extension Office or other Ag specialists for a list of native, but low growing wildflowers that you can seed the area with.

 

[Egon]

White or yellow clover may work for you. It can grow thick enough so it is hard to walk in. Add some alfalfa too.

Many different types of clover and will probably have local nomenclature so research if you try it.

 

[jjp8182]

Just me, but I'd second the clover and mix in something else like orchard grass and a wildflower mix (for example: the shade mix from Wildflower Seeds | Easy Mixes | Johnny's Selected Seeds )

...also unless you're much farther north that your location indicates it's pretty good odds you're still in the fall planting window ...and a fall planting (where practical) can give the seeds an extra advantage to the head start as there usually aren't many weeds that start germinating in the fall, but clovers and grasses will -- but identifying the germination soil temp range for what you're planting can be helpful (for example the chart of cover crops here: Cover Crops | Dynamic Comparison Chart | Johnny's Selected Seeds )

 

[KennyG]

Do a little research on clover ground cover. There are some low growing varieties (less than 6 inches) that may work well for your situation.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Just me, but I'd second the clover and mix in something else like orchard grass and a wildflower mix (for example: the shade mix from Wildflower Seeds | Easy Mixes | Johnny's Selected Seeds )

...also unless you're much farther north that your location indicates it's pretty good odds you're still in the fall planting window ...and a fall planting (where practical) can give the seeds an extra advantage to the head start as there usually aren't many weeds that start germinating in the fall, but clovers and grasses will -- but identifying the germination soil temp range for what you're planting can be helpful (for example the chart of cover crops here: Cover Crops | Dynamic Comparison Chart | Johnny's Selected Seeds )

Thanks for all of the replies. I think I could plant them now but unfortunately I am not ready to plant. Still need to do some land prep before I get to that step. But honestly a fall planting might be the best option as it is usually pretty wet down there in the spring. I love the idea for a clover, grass, wildflower mix.

 

[jeff9366]

Get a soil test.

No one can give you a good recommendation on a PERENNIAL cover crop without knowing the pH of your soil.

Seed germination will be poor if seed is planted outside of pH levels seeds prefer. Perennials die out planted outside of pH levels they prefer. Fertilizler will be inefficiently used by plants planted outside of pH levels they prefer.

Red clover is good for high pH soils. White clover is good for middle pH soils. You need a low or zero nitrogen fertilizer and innoculent for both color legumes.

COVER CROPS: https://hancockseed.com/search?type=product&q=Cover+Crop

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Get a soil test.

No one can give you a good recommendation on a PERENNIAL cover crop without knowing the pH of your soil.

Seed germination will be poor if seed is planted outside of pH levels seeds prefer. Perennials die out planted outside of pH levels they prefer. Fertilizler will be inefficiently used by plants planted outside of pH levels they prefer.

Red clover is good for high pH soils. White clover is good for middle pH soils. You need a low or zero nitrogen fertilizer and innoculent for both color legumes.

COVER CROPS: https://hancockseed.com/search?type=product&q=Cover+Crop

Excellent advice! I have a soil survey from about 400' to the east of there. But before I pull the trigger I will get another for that section.

 

[shooterdon]

I planted some White Dutch Clover a few week ago and I am further north than you. It has been slow to grow.

I chose clover that would not grow too high (6-8") and could choke out other grasses/weeds. Also it will attract deer. Clover seemed the easiest solution when I did my limited research and I will see how it goes. I will likely seed it again in the spring. Seed is about $30/acre so not expensive, but it is tiny and I spread it using a hand spreader as I only had about an 1 1/2 acres to do.

Like you, I want very low maintenance. About half the area will not be mowed or bush hogged.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I planted some White Dutch Clover a few week ago and I am further north than you. It has been slow to grow.

I chose clover that would not grow too high (6-8") and could choke out other grasses/weeds. Also it will attract deer. Clover seemed the easiest solution when I did my limited research and I will see how it goes. I will likely seed it again in the spring. Seed is about $30/acre so not expensive, but it is tiny and I spread it using a hand spreader as I only had about an 1 1/2 acres to do.

Like you, I want very low maintenance. About half the area will not be mowed or bush hogged.

Yeah, it has been a pretty cool September. That will slow it down a little. I planted 1/2 an acre of clover last fall and it started out slow but was beautiful by spring. I am definitely leaning towards a clover, grass, wildflower mix. Good luck with your clover, the deer love it!