help with canary grass!!!

[Guest Kevin Garceau]

Seriously need some help. We have a fairly good size hunting acreage in Waushara county Wisconsin. It has been in our family for years. It is a nice mix of field land, hardwoods and lowland marsh.

In the past 15-20 years the Canary Grass has all but taken over all of the low lands. It has taken control of the "willow brush" and has gotten rid of that completely. The willow brush was used heavily by deer for wind break, cover etc which the canary grass does not offer. This has significantly impacted our habitat. In good weather years this can get many feet high and easily hide deer movement, but yet does little for offering them cover during sever weather. Of course it hides their movement while Im hunting, which is another downfall.

I have been studying up, for a while and nobody seems to have a real good concept of this invasive species.

I wouuld really like to control this somehow, and bring back some more native cover. I would definatly consider adding more food plots in there however this grass will not allow it. We did disc up some areas this summer while it was dry and that area came back stronger than before with canary grass.

thank you

[OhioMatt]

have you thought of trying a controlled burn on the area that is being overtaken by the grass? This may allow you to eliminate it and at the same time help you if plan to put a food plot in that area

[wtnhunt]

Welcome to the forums.

Copied this from a this link http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/outreach/VMG/rcanarygr.html. Looks like roundup and a controlled burn could be worth trying.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES IN BUFFER AND SEVERELY DISTURBED SITES

Prescribed fire as described above should be used in areas that will burn. Hand removal for control may be feasible in small stands. There is evidence that hand chopping the culms at flowering time may kill small clones. Certain herbicides are effective where there is no real concern for damage to surrounding native species. Rodeo, a formulation of glyphosate designed for use in wetlands, will kill reed canary grass, especially young plants, when applied to foliage according to label recommendations. Rodeo should be applied in early spring when reed canary grass is green and most native wetland species are still dormant. The area should be checked after spraying, and any surviving reed canary grass should be sprayed the following spring. Dalapon and Amitrol also reportedly kill canary grass, although no Illinois natural area managers were found that have experience with these herbicides. All 3 herbicides are licensed for use in aquatic areas. Rodeo and Amitrol are nonselective herbicides that will kill all vegetation contacted. Dalapon selectively kills grasses and monocots, but not broadleaf plants. Spraying foliage with Roundup (a formulation of glyphosate) mixed according to label instructions and subsequent burning of dead residue has been moderately effective in northern Illinois. However, Roundup is not licensed for use in aquatic areas and should only be used in areas without standing water.

When using any herbicide, precautions should be taken to avoid contacting nontarget species. Do not spray so heavily that herbicide drips off the target species. The herbicide should be applied while backing away from the treated area to avoid contacting wet herbicide. By law, herbicides only may be applied as per label instructions and by licensed herbicide applicators or operators when working on public properties.

Where practical, it can be useful to sow in seed of nearby native grasses and forbs after reed canary grass has died (due to control efforts) or gone dormant. Seed of nearby native grasses and forbs should be collected when ripe and then raked into the sod as soon as the reed canary grass has died.