Grass Reseed into existing weed grass

[Devon lad]

Got several dry fields that normally burn up in the summer that are full of annual meadow weed grass. They have been glysophate sprayed 2 weeks ago with the idea of giving them another spray in mid August then drilling soon after.
In the past we’ve used both a gutler and power Harrow combi drill and noticed quite a few meadow grass plants still there the following year. we don’t get this with ploughing but don’t really won’t to plough too much either. I’m thinking of using a Moore’s drill as it won’t disturb the soil too much to germinate the weed grass seeds below the surface. Does this sound a good idea and if so how well does double disc drilling turn out? I’ve heard reports sometimes drilling opposite or diamond pulls the turf up leaving a fair mess.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Tia

 

[Derrick Hughes]

If your going to spray might August you should run over it with a harrow of sorts now to disturb the surface and encourage the meadow grass to start , then get it with your second spray, most of the seeds will be on or near the surface so will germinate whatever you do

 

[Wesley]

Don’t leave it too late, don’t skimp on seed rates. Wants to be up & away before autumn & grass growth slows down to smother out any weed grasses.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Or stick forage rape on at 3 to 4 kg acre , that will smother any weeds out

 

[Bury the Trash]

Got several dry fields that normally burn up in the summer that are full of annual meadow weed grass. They have been glysophate sprayed 2 weeks ago with the idea of giving them another spray in mid August then drilling soon after.
In the past we’ve used both a gutler and power Harrow combi drill and noticed quite a few meadow grass plants still there the following year. we don’t get this with ploughing but don’t really won’t to plough too much either. I’m thinking of using a Moore’s drill as it won’t disturb the soil too much to germinate the weed grass seeds below the surface. Does this sound a good idea and if so how well does double disc drilling turn out? I’ve heard reports sometimes drilling opposite or diamond pulls the turf up leaving a fair mess.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Tia

try looking at the problem a different way.
use different grass , like some types of perennial meadow grasses and meadow fescues. they might successfully survive the dry better

 

[som farmer]

try looking at the problem a different way.
use different grass , like some types of perennial meadow grasses and meadow fescues. they might successfully survive the dry better

we use different grasses now, less prg, + clover and herbs, ( sam3) just got fed up of prg just sending up seed heads, as soon as we dry up.

completely changed our grazing ground, it lasts longer into a dry spell, than prg, and starts growing again sooner than prg.

yield isn't much difference in wet times, just a lot more in a dry time. Dairy eats and milks, off them.

mind you, 40 yrs ago at college, never thought l would be growing 'weed' grasses like cocksfoot, and the fesques ! Times, like weather patterns, change.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

try looking at the problem a different way.
use different grass , like some types of perennial meadow grasses and meadow fescues. they might successfully survive the dry better

Anual meadow grass prefers wetter ground, that's why it's burning off with him , it's 2 cd only to blackgrass and needs controlling any way you can , afraid to say but ploughing is the best way to control it

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Double disc drilling works ace. My advice FWIW is to do a straight line and then a wavy line over the top so you can find the "golden angle" and then calibrate and fill the drill.
Will depend on the machine to an extent as a lot of euro "direct drills" are cultivators with seeders on them going by the mess they make

 

[som farmer]

seem to recall adding a purple powder to grass seed, which controlled AMG, probably long written off, as dangerous to use.

must reseed very successfully, as its the first grass to repopulate drought killed patches !

we have been looking at some parkland we graze, yields a lot of non productive grass, cattle grazing it now, just starting to go 'back', need to feed, or move, main grass looks to be yorkshire fog, we will be trying to establish sam3 in there, cannot plough, spray will be a nightmare, trees, so dd is the option.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

seem to recall adding a purple powder to grass seed, which controlled AMG, probably long written off, as dangerous to use.

must reseed very successfully, as its the first grass to repopulate drought killed patches !

we have been looking at some parkland we graze, yields a lot of non productive grass, cattle grazing it now, just starting to go 'back', need to feed, or move, main grass looks to be yorkshire fog, we will be trying to establish sam3 in there, cannot plough, spray will be a nightmare, trees, so dd is the option.

A single plant producing 1300 seeds and flowers within 40 days of germination

 

[sidjon]

Plantain and clover would be worth a go, and treat it as a annual crop and you may get 3 years of grazing out of it, someone in Chevithorne has just brought a Erth drill and I'd be drilling with that rather than the Moore

 

[DairyNerd]

To be honest in that case I would plough it. do a conventional reseed and then spray once any weeds have come up.

 

[Devon lad]

I’m looking at plantain, clover, lofa going in.
The Erth looks ok for nice flat fields but I’m not sure of the roller for steep/undulating ones

 

[Bury the Trash]

we use different grasses now, less prg, + clover and herbs, ( sam3) just got fed up of prg just sending up seed heads, as soon as we dry up.

completely changed our grazing ground, it lasts longer into a dry spell, than prg, and starts growing again sooner than prg.

yield isn't much difference in wet times, just a lot more in a dry time. Dairy eats and milks, off them.

mind you, 40 yrs ago at college, never thought l would be growing 'weed' grasses like cocksfoot, and the fesques ! Times, like weather patterns, change.

It's 47 years since my Bicton college course started.

Back at that time Dad was using a tailored longterm mix from Tuckers of Ashburton, it had Cocksfoot and MF in iirc which I then in my youthful enthusiasm proceeded to remove in favour of more modern prg varieties also got the Red clover removed ax well because I didn't see it persisting too well with sheep stocking.
The Cocksfoot back then easily went clumpy as I recall, very good soil improver / covered then and now of course.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Anual meadow grass prefers wetter ground, that's why it's burning off with him , it's 2 cd only to blackgrass and needs controlling any way you can , afraid to say but ploughing is the best way to control it

It doesn't bother us.

In any case it might not be an annual but a perennial meadow grass which is more common here , as one would expect seeing as there's loads of perennial meadow grass types and only a couple of annual ones.
And of those perennial ones that are more suited to thin drier ground than the annuals.

 

[kill]

It's 47 years since my Bicton college course started.

Back at that time Dad was using a tailored longterm mix from Tuckers of Ashburton, it had Cocksfoot and MF in iirc which I then in my youthful enthusiasm proceeded to remove in favour of more modern prg varieties also got the Red clover removed ax well because I didn't see it persisting too well with sheep stocking.
The Cocksfoot back then easily went clumpy as I recall, very good soil improver / covered then and now of course.

Was your rep called Dick Alane ?

 

[Bury the Trash]

Was your rep called Dick Alane ?

i cant remember kill, too long ago,

 

[neilo]

I’m looking at plantain, clover, lofa going in.
The Erth looks ok for nice flat fields but I’m not sure of the roller for steep/undulating ones

Personally I would avoid festuloliums these days, they seem to run to head in a dry time as bad as ryegrass IME.
Modern cocksfoot varieties don't go 'clumpy' like cocksfoot of old and, although the feed value isn't as good as ryegrass in it's prime, it maintains it a lot better in the dry, or with less N fert applied.

 

[Macsky]

we use different grasses now, less prg, + clover and herbs, ( sam3) just got fed up of prg just sending up seed heads, as soon as we dry up.

completely changed our grazing ground, it lasts longer into a dry spell, than prg, and starts growing again sooner than prg.

yield isn't much difference in wet times, just a lot more in a dry time. Dairy eats and milks, off them.

mind you, 40 yrs ago at college, never thought l would be growing 'weed' grasses like cocksfoot, and the fesques ! Times, like weather patterns, change.

Have you got a mixture list of what you sowed? Here’s what I put in last year as a bit of a reduced PRG trial:

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

try looking at the problem a different way.
use different grass , like some types of perennial meadow grasses and meadow fescues. they might successfully survive the dry better

Plus chicory and a few other herby type things