VTbowman Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Wanting to put in a small food plot in an area that as far as I know has always been choked thick with Golden Rod and a variety of hardy weeds.. The fields all around this spot are planted in red clover, alfalfa, and rye grass for cow hay, which is cut 3 times per year... Those fields were planted some 3 or 4 years ago... This spot has been just a thicket really of the GR... Its some narrly thick stuff come fall time but is all knocked down and flat right now. Need advice for getting rid of the Rod so it does not come back at all. My plan was to let it start growing again this next few weeks, spray it with round-up, put the harrows to it and roll over the dirt, then a roto-tiller. Then maybe spay again if need be and plant. This would all be done before May is over... The size is about 100'x120'.... Will this work on Golden Rod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Golden rod has a pretty tough rhizome, but not as tough as thistle. I've had success discing, the tilling and roundup anything that survives that, then plant a couple weeks after roundup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? [ QUOTE ] Golden rod has a pretty tough rhizome, but not as tough as thistle. I've had success discing, the tilling and roundup anything that survives that, then plant a couple weeks after roundup. [/ QUOTE ] My plan was to roll it over now and then wait for things to grow before spraying, but a neighbor, whom I am borrowing his tracotr to do this work, says to spray first once things "start to spring up", then disc and till... He says it should take care of it.. I plan to wait a bit for more weeds to sprout and spray again before planting though... Its a mix Luke got from Oneida man and gave to me last year... I hope its still good seed...??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? i don't have any experience with golden rod but what i'd do is spray--disc--then wait a couple weeks and spray again. if you are planting a mix of hamann farms it is probably a perennial (unless it is his brassica mix). with perennial you want to do the very best you can on pre-planting weed control. good luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Not sure what it is exactly but I am fair certain its not Brassica... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitteken Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? [ QUOTE ] Then maybe spay again if need be and plant. [/ QUOTE ] Spaying it is probably dogdocs department. But I guess thats one way to keep it from reproducing. Sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Would follow Todd's advice and do the best you can to remove any vegetation. The follow up spraying for a perenial in the spring I strongly encourage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Then maybe spay again if need be and plant. [/ QUOTE ] Spaying it is probably dogdocs department. But I guess thats one way to keep it from reproducing. Sorry [/ QUOTE ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? If you can, cut it and rake it off first to remove any seed. Then when the green up occurs spray it, till it a few days afterward and spray again if it looks like you still have some weed coming up. Till again then lime, fertilize and plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anderson3 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Goldenrod is pretty resilient stuff, so keep after it this first year. There are probably tons of seeds in the soil from previous years, so it could re-appear down the road. Shouldn't be too bad to deal with once you get your plot established. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? I though about doing a small field burn to remove the old dead stuff and any seeds that may be above ground still. I could do this fairly safely this time of year.. I would think that the ashes would help the soil too since I have no plans to fertilize. Not to mention I would see whats sprouting up now that is covered with all the dead crap... It was crazy thick the last few years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Ash is an OK fertilizer but only supplies the K portion (potassium), along with other trace elements like calcium, a lot depends on what the ash came from. Ash acts similar to lime raising the soil pH making it less acidic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? I am fairly certain all htis land is massively fertilized vai cow manure from years past. They are hay field tended by a local farmer. This spot form some reason has been not hayed fro a long time and the golden rod took over and its now a super thicket come summer and fall... I can not see anything else in there but the GR.. I would feel better about dragging my neighbor harrows threw it if I could see the ground better. LOL As of now its a layed down carpet of GR and by no means can you see dirt or soil.. Years upon years worth of it. Should burn nicely. LOL Thankfully there is green field on 3 side, ditches on 2 or those, so containment will be easy with the right wind direction... Since I do not plan to lime or fertilize it It can not hurt to add the ash pr would justy tilling the old dead matter into the soil be better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? It's the Hamann Farms Trefoil Trophy Rack Fall Deer Blend ... A select blend of Norcen Trefoil, DCS Wildlife Rape, Turnip, Chicory, Winter Rye, Ladino Clover, Alsike Clover and White Dutch Clover to produce a very lush and high protein green field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Holy crap thats a lot of stuff. LOL A little bit for everyone huh. LOL Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Nothing but the BEST from the best seed supplier out there..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Burning it is not a bad idea. Around here you could get in a lot of trouble for that. Maybe call the local fire dept and ask if they'll do an intentional burn for you. Serves 2 purposes--you get your field burned, they get their training. Burning won't be the cure all, and I dare say you'll have to disc anyway. Some plants actually thrive with a little burning, switch grass is one that comes to mind. I'd call the FD and see what they'll do, other than that, disc away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? We can burn here on our own property and believe me everyone is doning it this time of year. LOL I even did some of my ditches and around my pond already last weekend so thats not a concern. I plan to still spray once thing do show up, then disc, and till and maybe spray again if there is time.. That part of my plan is still firmed up and the tractor with attachment are all lined up and ready to go. Just waiting on that 1st spray... Thought I would get it burned to see whats what... And maybe helpo it along a bit.. I am sure anything I plant this year will be a super magnet since the other 40 acres of clover and alfalfa is about 5 years old now and may not be as sweet as it was that 1st 2 years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? I would disc after burning. I did before planting Martins trefoil grower blend, but then I had a brush pile encompassing nearly an acre. I piled it up with the tractor and burned the old logs and brush over a period of time, when I got it all cleared off, I disced several times, leveled it out then disced again, then limed, fertilized and planted my seed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Yep I know. Not just burning; just want it cleared up before I spray, disc, and till it... Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: Food plot over old Golden Rod field? Yeah, left out the spraying part. I sprayed after leveling, but prior to the last time I disced. We planted our grower plot in the spring and had a really bad dry spell and ended up with a lot of competitive growth before the clovers got really well established. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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