Mattyq2402
5 year old buck +
I dont have any way of spraying my larger plots prior to planting. I cant have my dad do it with a backpack sprayer due to his health. What do the guys that dont spray do in order to get the best weed free seed bed?
One more rookie?
- Thread starter Mattyq2402
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Mattyq2402
5 year old buck +
One thing to add, our bush hog broke a couple weeks ago so cant mow. I do have access to a tiller
mikmaze
5 year old buck +
how large of a plot are we talking? grab a 12 volt sprayer motor and build your self a sprayer, 33 or 55 gallon drum, pick up tube, some fittings, a nozzle or two.........
spray body, like this, not hard to build, save money and get a good pump, get a lot more out of it when you build it yourself.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...m_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Lawn + Garden >%20Sprayers%20>%20Sprayer%20Pumps&utm_campaign=NorthStar&utm_content=2683061&gclid=Cj0KCQjwg8n5BRCdARIsALxKb94NH_RRBtbVcyQI0I-OFCechUm76gaDfAMHljTJqxTCm_Mg8jewPA8aAvSxEALw_wcB
spray body, like this, not hard to build, save money and get a good pump, get a lot more out of it when you build it yourself.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...m_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Lawn + Garden >%20Sprayers%20>%20Sprayer%20Pumps&utm_campaign=NorthStar&utm_content=2683061&gclid=Cj0KCQjwg8n5BRCdARIsALxKb94NH_RRBtbVcyQI0I-OFCechUm76gaDfAMHljTJqxTCm_Mg8jewPA8aAvSxEALw_wcB
yoderjac
5 year old buck +
It would help if you added your USDA zone and location to your profile. In general, you can mow your fields before the weeds go to seed. For fall/winter plots, wait until the weather changes before planting. In my area, I would wait until labor day and then look for rain in the forecast to dictate planting time. Warm season weeds will not be a problem, but cool season grasses can be a problem if you don't spray depending on your seed bank. Then, simply tolerate weeds.
For spring planting plots, use smother crops like buckwheat and sunn hemp that compete well with weeds. Then tolerate weeds. Keep in mind that many weeds are better deer food than the crops we plant.
Thakns,
Jack
Tree Spud
5 year old buck +
Mow
Natty Bumppo
5 year old buck +
Maybe I'm missing something...but why don't you spray then with the backpack sprayer since your dad can't do it?
Can't mow. Can't spray. But you have a tiller. I think you answered your own question...till the crap out of it for the next few weeks and then get some seed in the ground.
scott44
5 year old buck +
Like Natty said if you can't spray you are going to have to till let the weeds come up and till again, tilling is going to open up the seed bank and you'll have a flush of new weeds after you till. If you till and can't spray I think you are going to have to live with weeds how bad depends on your seed bank. Good luck!
Bassattackr
5 year old buck +
If it's a fall plot I'd till then broadcast on the same day. Anything that comes up will compete with your "crop". As others have mentioned, weeds are only a big deal to us, not deer.. 
Mattyq2402
5 year old buck +
Did the first till this morning. Will wait for next big rain event and till again. Thanks.
Mattyq2402
5 year old buck +
I live out in Arizona or id be happy to. It always comes down to the wire. Cant wait to retire and be able to do the chores.
FarmerDan
5 year old buck +
I guess the case is closed? It made me think about how dependent we've become on herbicides. We've farmed and worked the soil thousands of years without chemicals. Yes, its mechanically involved. Well, some of it's human powered (got a horse?). Shovel, rakes and hoes come to mind - before during and after. Then there are the other machine powered implements like plows and discs and cultivators. There are some pieces used for construction that can substitute. Now, use a little imagination. What's around that LOOKS like a farm implement? An old bed spring, scrapped frames had of angle iron. There are lots of alternatives for the resource limited - and for the imaginative who prefer to keep their money!
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Mattyq2402
5 year old buck +
Alright, i think its closed. Tilled today and will again ahead of next really good rain event around september 1 and hope that weeds stay down. I used a antlerking soil test and only got ph with no reccomendation for p/k/etc. Tomorrow my dad is taking soil sample to the local coop so i can get things situated for lime and fert.
Natty Bumppo
5 year old buck +
I see. So you're not near the land? You dad is tilling it for you? I have no idea where your land is, but by Sept. 1st in the North it would be too late for anything but rye. Good luck with the plots.
Mattyq2402
5 year old buck +
Yeah im about as far away as one can get in the states from my property. The property is in southern ohio. We have always planted in and around labor day. Last year it ended up being sept 12th because of drought and we didnt get rain for a week and a half after that, plots were a wastes last year.
So you guys are good planting oat/wheat/pea/rye this early?
So you guys are good planting oat/wheat/pea/rye this early?
yoderjac
5 year old buck +
Deer are more attracted to cereal when it is young so it depends on when you want the attraction (presuming that is your objective). I'm south of you in zone 7a. Our Archery season starts in early Oct and our firearm season ends in early Jan. I've I was only planting cereal, I'd wait until labor day and then plant right before the first good rain forecast after that.
However, there are other considerations. I typically plant a Mix of Purple Top Turnips, Crimson Clover (acts as a reseeding annual in my area), and Winter Rye. If I plant that late, there is not enough growing season for the turnips to get good sized bulbs. I've used two strategies. I don't till because I'm on marginal soil and deep/frequent tillage can be a disaster for soil health in the long run, especially for marginal soils like mine. I either use a min till approach where I just scratch up the top inch or the Throw-n-Mow method. Turnips like to be planted in early august for maximum growth in my area. So, one strategy is to plant those in early August and come back in early September and surface broadcast the Winter Rye over them. The other strategy, if I don't have time for both, is to split the difference and plant in mid August.
With a mix like this, even if I plant in early August, it remains attractive throughout our season. The turnips tops become attractive after a couple good frosts and the bulbs become attractive near the end of our firearm season and beyond. The bulbs get the most use in Feb here.
Thanks,
Jack
scott44
5 year old buck +
I'm north of you and I plant my cereal grains around Labor Day.
Troubles Trees
5 year old buck +
I am no expert here by any means but I would think burning the field (before tilling) would get rid of alot of the seed in the bank.
Maybe I just like fire too much :)
Maybe I just like fire too much :)
yoderjac
5 year old buck +
We call that scarification which many seeds need. Some plants don't like fire and it will kill the seed and others love it an need it (or some other method of scarification. Also, the seed bank is not just what is on the surface. It is what is in the germination layer and fire won't go deep.
Thanks,
Jack
