I planted rye grass this past hunting season. i would like to know if i need to spray to kill it or will discing it up real good will work. I going plant four galore in those plots. Thanks
Here in Michigan we've been taught that rye GRASS, in the context of food for deer, is practically useless and even harmful to plant because it can take over. We strongly prefer Winter Rye grain for planting.
I'm happy to hear the benefits of rye grass if anyone has had good use of it. Might benefit hard, compacted ground as a cover crop it suggests in the link below.
We are taught to strictly avoid it. Happy to hear any merits I'm missing.
You should be fine with discing in the rye grass-it should have provided you some organic matter and be helpful. Be careful about discing too aggressively however as too much soil prep can give you a seed bed that is too deep, even for the larger seeds you are planting. You may want to think about what you want to plant later in the season to have forage for the fall and winter. Assuming you have fair numbers of deer, if you plant the four galore this spring it will likely be eaten up by then. As always do a soil test and ammend it as needed.
There is nothing wrong with using chemical as long as you follow the instructions and use the right chemical, at the right time, on the right site.
Here is a link on recent news: http://healthimpactnews.com/2015/glyphosate-causes-cancer-epa-trade-secret-sealed-files-reveal-cancer-link-known-back-in-the-1970s/
There has been recent conversation on growing herbicide resistance: https://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/crops-commercial-horticulture/cotton/Herbicide%20Resistance.pdf
Speaking only for myself, I am trying to improve habitat and food for wildlife. So I will try to provide the best that I can.
I will use mechanical means (discing) repeatedly after regrowth to disrupt grass and plant seeds that can outcompete in growth and shade out grasses.
Last year I planted a non-GRO mix in 2 fields that I consider a total failure. The food plot seed"s germination was near total failure and I was over run with grasses, different types, and I could not identify.
Multiple discing for a clean field and followed with a late fall planting of cereal grain rye (not ryegrass) and kale. I am waiting for the spring regrowth of rye and will frost seed with red clover to cover the ground before my next steps.
One last thing, if you can check the Imperial Whitetail product that you mentioned in your video, maybe you will get lucky and it is "only" annual ryegrass.
This is for No Plow:
Imperial No Plow seed mix includes; Noxious weeds NONE FOUND Coated with All-Advantage containing Rainbond
Gulf Annual Ryegrass 24.92%
Dwarf Essex Rape 19.99%
Alex Berseem Clover 10.34%
Yuchi Arrowleaf Clover 8.41%
Dixie Crimson Clover 7.60%
Trophy Rape 5.98%
Eco-Till Radish 4.92%
Paris White Cos Romaine Lettuce 1.47%
Other Crop 0.03%
Inert matter includes 16.30%
Gotta like that 16+% of inert matter.
I was notified of your response. Thanks and good luck.
I am in the same boat, planted Rye Grass in my first foodplot last last summer, it did well but it needs to go. I am planning on discing and glyphosphate to kill it off this spring
I have no experience with rye grass in food plots. I am not a fan of herbicides. Someone else can comment. I have used multiple discings to to prepare a field. The regrowth can be incorporated along with lime and fertilizer after a soil test prior to planting.
Four Galore could outgrow and shade grass. Depending on your plan for that field, fall sown clovers and grains may be a consideration later in the fall.
Here in Michigan we've been taught that rye GRASS, in the context of food for deer, is practically useless and even harmful to plant because it can take over. We strongly prefer Winter Rye grain for planting.
I'm happy to hear the benefits of rye grass if anyone has had good use of it. Might benefit hard, compacted ground as a cover crop it suggests in the link below.
We are taught to strictly avoid it. Happy to hear any merits I'm missing.
http://ryegrasscovercrop.com/portfolio-view/arggrowin/
You should be fine with discing in the rye grass-it should have provided you some organic matter and be helpful. Be careful about discing too aggressively however as too much soil prep can give you a seed bed that is too deep, even for the larger seeds you are planting. You may want to think about what you want to plant later in the season to have forage for the fall and winter. Assuming you have fair numbers of deer, if you plant the four galore this spring it will likely be eaten up by then. As always do a soil test and ammend it as needed.
There is nothing wrong with using chemical as long as you follow the instructions and use the right chemical, at the right time, on the right site.
Here is a link on recent news: http://healthimpactnews.com/2015/glyphosate-causes-cancer-epa-trade-secret-sealed-files-reveal-cancer-link-known-back-in-the-1970s/
There has been recent conversation on growing herbicide resistance: https://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/crops-commercial-horticulture/cotton/Herbicide%20Resistance.pdf
Speaking only for myself, I am trying to improve habitat and food for wildlife. So I will try to provide the best that I can.
I will use mechanical means (discing) repeatedly after regrowth to disrupt grass and plant seeds that can outcompete in growth and shade out grasses.
Last year I planted a non-GRO mix in 2 fields that I consider a total failure. The food plot seed"s germination was near total failure and I was over run with grasses, different types, and I could not identify.
Multiple discing for a clean field and followed with a late fall planting of cereal grain rye (not ryegrass) and kale. I am waiting for the spring regrowth of rye and will frost seed with red clover to cover the ground before my next steps.
One last thing, if you can check the Imperial Whitetail product that you mentioned in your video, maybe you will get lucky and it is "only" annual ryegrass.
This is for No Plow:
Imperial No Plow seed mix includes; Noxious weeds NONE FOUND Coated with All-Advantage containing Rainbond
Gulf Annual Ryegrass 24.92%
Dwarf Essex Rape 19.99%
Alex Berseem Clover 10.34%
Yuchi Arrowleaf Clover 8.41%
Dixie Crimson Clover 7.60%
Trophy Rape 5.98%
Eco-Till Radish 4.92%
Paris White Cos Romaine Lettuce 1.47%
Other Crop 0.03%
Inert matter includes 16.30%
Gotta like that 16+% of inert matter.
I was notified of your response. Thanks and good luck.
I am in the same boat, planted Rye Grass in my first foodplot last last summer, it did well but it needs to go. I am planning on discing and glyphosphate to kill it off this spring
I have no experience with rye grass in food plots. I am not a fan of herbicides. Someone else can comment. I have used multiple discings to to prepare a field. The regrowth can be incorporated along with lime and fertilizer after a soil test prior to planting.
Four Galore could outgrow and shade grass. Depending on your plan for that field, fall sown clovers and grains may be a consideration later in the fall.