Hey all,
So I am planning on planting a clover/chicory/burnet mix this fall in a plot that is about half an acre, and I've basically let the area go fallow this summer after I planted rye, oats, peas and brassicas last fall. My plan is to burndown and then till (or visa versa), or just till. I'm not too worried about weed control for this year, as I'll plant with a nurse crop of rye, oats, peas and brassicas again. Next spring/summer I may or may not mow the plot so that the rye doesn't go to seed.
I've gotten that far, but my biggest fear/problem is that the hairy vetch I've had growing there this year has already gone to seed. Additionally, a few years ago we had some hairy vetch take that area over and seed. It has a hard seed coat, so it can be in the bed for a while before sprouting. My current plan is to do the regular clover mowing to take care of the other weeds, and use my weedwhacker and "spot mow" the vetch throughout the spring. The area in question only has a few sections where the vetch is heavy, so about a quarter acre total.
Do you think that this is my best approach to combat newly sprouted vetch without hurting my perennials?
So I am planning on planting a clover/chicory/burnet mix this fall in a plot that is about half an acre, and I've basically let the area go fallow this summer after I planted rye, oats, peas and brassicas last fall. My plan is to burndown and then till (or visa versa), or just till. I'm not too worried about weed control for this year, as I'll plant with a nurse crop of rye, oats, peas and brassicas again. Next spring/summer I may or may not mow the plot so that the rye doesn't go to seed.
I've gotten that far, but my biggest fear/problem is that the hairy vetch I've had growing there this year has already gone to seed. Additionally, a few years ago we had some hairy vetch take that area over and seed. It has a hard seed coat, so it can be in the bed for a while before sprouting. My current plan is to do the regular clover mowing to take care of the other weeds, and use my weedwhacker and "spot mow" the vetch throughout the spring. The area in question only has a few sections where the vetch is heavy, so about a quarter acre total.
Do you think that this is my best approach to combat newly sprouted vetch without hurting my perennials?