We have 10 acres of weeds that our horses won't eat. We were told to burn the fields before the grass comes in, it will kill the weeds and we would have fields of grass for pasturing our horses. We burnt last year, but it was too wet and hard to get going. Weeds did grow back once we got it burnt because we don't have access to a mower big enough to make it over all the bumps (deep rows left over from when it was used to grow potatoes or corn or something) and keep the weeds from going to seed. Hubby wants to burn again this year, but I think that by the time the field dries out enough (we still have snow in patches), we burn, and the grass starts to grow back, it will be fall and we'll still be buying hay. Anyone with a better way to get rid of all those weeds or have any burning tips so we are more successful this year?

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), April 22, 2001

Answers

Response to To burn or not to burn?

can you hire someone to plow it under and seed it for you? sounds like it might be worth it

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), April 22, 2001.

Response to To burn or not to burn?

I'm with Stan on this- for what you're probably paying for hay it might be worth investing in some contract tractor work. The burning, while it might help cut down temporarily on weeds, won't help if there are no grass plants there to grow. Even if there is grass, you need to keep the weeds down so the grass can have a fighting chance. In the future, you might also consider planting a winter cover crop of winter rye. You might also want to look into fertilizing and maybe liming, depending upon the condition of your soil, which sounds poor from your description.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), April 22, 2001.

Response to To burn or not to burn?

If you submit a soil sample through our local extension agent you get a reply re: what you need to do to grow whatever it is you said you wanted to grow.You get a complete plan of action. Check it out where you live. It is free here.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), April 22, 2001.

Response to To burn or not to burn?

The best way is turn over the 10 acres with a turning plow let set for some time long enough for the weeds that have been covered up die. Then disc the land up and plant whatever kind of grass or hay you need. Just burning off the weeds really will do little if any good. Check with your county agent or neighbors that have good pasture or hay fields which ever you want or need. They will advise you on how to do it the best and cheapest way. The neighbors might also know some one in the neighborhood that will do the tractor work for you, reasonably.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), April 22, 2001.

Response to To burn or not to burn?

It is a trick to burn exactly at the right time, but you don't want it so dry that you risk it getting out of hand. Get one of those weed burner things that you screw a small propane tank onto. I got one and it was a big help to getting the dry stuff burning and keeping it going. We burn when the grass is greening up underneath all the dead stuff, which was last month here in N IL, and when the wind is blowing in a favorable direction. Then the dead grass burns but the green grass doesn't. 10 acres is a lot to burn, so be careful! I think that when there are still patches of snow sounds like a good time to burn - not too wet, not too dry. Good luck!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), April 23, 2001.

Just taking the plow and seed idea a step further; take a first cutting of pasture hay after it is established. We keep our horses in a smaller pasture until the "back" pasture grows enough for a first cutting, then contract with a neighbor to cut and bale. (Actually costs less than us mowing it all the time, and the goats enjoy some of the weedy bales)We don't do this every year but have noticed if we go longer then five years we are back to the plow and seed or heavy mowing.

-- Nancy Bakke-McGonigle Mn. Sunset (dmcgonig@smig.net), April 23, 2001.

Thanks for the advice, all. We had the fire department do the burning, so we are definately careful. The soil probably isn't very good because the top was stripped and used for the highway nearby years ago. Hubby is interested in getting the soil tested, so we may end up reseeding. Glad to have a place to ask these questions! Thanks again!

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), April 24, 2001.