Weed wiper... Johnson grass. Anyone using one?

[2manyrocks]

Sorry to bring this topic back up, but this summer proved to be relentless for my lawn directly around my house. The fields are fine, but I don't want Johnson Grass around my house. It's unsightly and it chokes out fescue and other desirable lawn grasses. I have tried to manually dig out as much of it as I can, but it's quickly going out of control. I've got a few 10' x 10' patches of it now that are spreading. It would take a month of Sundays to manually dig that all out with a garden spade.

So back to the topic of herbicides.. are there any that I can actually purchase myself that are effective at controlling Johnson Grass but will not harm fescue? I know that's a tall order, but if one exists please list it and I'll buy some.

For a smaller area where you could control the fire hazard, you could try a weed burner like the one from Harbor Freight. https://www.harborfreight.com/propa...MIlOKyrfOykAMVKFR_AB3m1x72EAQYASABEgIuT_D_BwE

 

[ponytug]

For a smaller area where you could control the fire hazard, you could try a weed burner like the one from Harbor Freight. https://www.harborfreight.com/propa...MIlOKyrfOykAMVKFR_AB3m1x72EAQYASABEgIuT_D_BwE

That is what I used to eradicate poison hemlock here, but a couple of caveats/tips. One, if the hemlock burns the smoke is toxic to humans. Two, the best times that I found were to flame the hemlock when it was raining and the leaves were covered in water. That way the hemlock "steams" and "parboils" itself, killing the roots as well. I found roundup was ineffective at killing the roots. Three, try to use the flame at the base of the plant.

I have zero experience controlling Johnson Grass, and hope to keep it that way.

All the best, Peter

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Didn't read the whole thread, but thought I would post this any way. Many years ago, my Dad and I were discussing this same topic. He said my Granddad's farm (first farmed about 1910) had an area with Johnson grass.

He said Grampa fenced the area off and turned some hogs in on it...they rooted it all out and ate the roots. Dad said it was clean as a whistle.