preping a hay field for replanting

Keith Molden · Jul 26, 2018

I mentioned a few days ago about the dogbane in a hay field that I have. I'm thinking about spraying with 2 4 D and then plowing this fall and replanting either this fall or in the spring. Which do you guys prefer to do and should I burn it down or not. I'll probably re seed with orchard grass and lespedeza as both grow good in this area' I limed it pretty heavy last year but I'll get a soil analysis for the fertilizer. If I plant this fall should I plant wheat with it and if I wait till spring should I plant oats with it or not? Or should I just spray the heck out of it with 2 4 D and disc it and re sow the orchard grass and lespedeza, there is a good stand of red clover but I figure I'll loose a lot of it with the spraying. I'm in S.E. Ohio. Keith

VicS · Jul 26, 2018

Year before last I reseeded a small corner. A little over 2 acres. I sprayed it with rr and 24d. Then disked or do-alled it all summer. L
Fall before last planted it with a mix. Orchard grass,red clover,alfalfa ,fescue. Last year all we got was fox tail. But this year had a great crop. Clover alfalfa and a little orchard grass. Got 190 wire tied bales. Looks like will make half that again. We haven't plowed in 30 yrs.

tomNE · Jul 26, 2018

spraying down is one way to kill it or plowing down is another. doing both is a total waste of money. when you plow it down; that brings new seeds to the surface to grow, which might lead to more dogbane. if you spray it down, dogbane seeds should have already sprouted and be gone. but anykind of tillage brings new seeds to the growing zone!
You can now make your decision!

showcrop · Jul 26, 2018

As long as you are confident in a good kill with the 24d, go ahead and disc it to make a good seed bed and seed down this Sept. I prefer fall seeding way over spring, because there is a much less weed competition in the fall, and much less likelihood of early rain followed by drought. I like orchard grass because it produces very well, and if you have weather problems it keeps pushing more leaf instead of lumber like Timothy and brome do. I like to broadcast oats before a spring seeding, in case the grass sprouts and then it turns dry. This is much less likely to happen in the fall.

Hay hay hay · Jul 26, 2018

In central Ky the best plan in my experience...roundup killdown about August 1st. Disc and break the soil/sod mid-aug as the kill is finished. Plant using a properly adjusted "pasture pleaser" drill Aug 20. Chain harrow the entire field the day after planting. Hope for rain, wait for spring.

Early Spring planting (March 1) is the same but more subject to weather luck.

Just remember, roundup kills the weed plants but not the seeds. Grass and legumes combined are a weed magnet because no spray will kill weeds without killing the legumes. Because you don't want to kill Lespedeza. you don't spray..and then you get weeds.

preping a hay field for replanting

Keith Molden

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VicS

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tomNE

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showcrop

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Hay hay hay

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