Planting grass

[dnm]

Hi all, this is my first post. I just bought 5 acres of previously farmed land. It is fairly flat. right now there is just some weeds growing on it. Im wanting to plant grass but not sure how to get around all the weeds. I have linked a pic of the groundcover.

thx for any help
Dm

[Rich]

I would probably use Roundup and kill everything and start over.. but 5 acres is pretty good sized chunk of land to do that with.
Contact your county weed department (most counties will have some type of weed control department) and ask them about how to deal with the problem. Many counties even rent the weed sprayer to you and have access to weed killing product specfiic to your problem.

[dnm]

I know about the round up, but I was a little afraid of the massive price tag for x amount of bottles for 220,000+ square feet! Ill check with the county engineers office and see what they think. Or maybe the Dept of Natural resources? I was hoping maybe if I just planted seed it would eventually overcome the weeds....naive thinking:)

[ndemge]

guy down the road has just been mowing the weeds and overseeding every year..

Any farmers close by?... ask one what they would charge to roundup when they spray for no-till.

[linear]

I only did this to maybe 3/4 acre out of my 10 acre plot, but we had very good luck with this program:

disc harrow to break up the sod (I don't have one, so a friend did this step for me)
drag harrow to turn the big clods into fine dirt, and smooth the surface
seed applied with a broadcast spreader
drag harrow again to get some cover
hope for rain

The only areas where this didn't work well are borders next to fences/structures where the disc didn't break up the turf enough. the open areas came out great.

I DIY'ed all the above except the discing as noted. I'm guessing you are going to be a tractor owner with 5 acres, so look at the implements as an investment.

[dnm]

I thought about that, and it seems pretty valid, Im just pricing out 20 tons of grass seed now:)

[linear]

here's the first step in process, and a shot of after the second was completed.

http://linear1.org/i/disced.jpg

http://linear1.org/i/harrowed.jpg

[Gatorboy]

I know about the round up, but I was a little afraid of the massive price tag for x amount of bottles for 220,000+ square feet!

You don't buy the small spray bottles -- you buy it by the gallon or 2-gallon size of concentrate. One gallon of concentrate will make about 80 gallons of mix. My local Home Depot sells a gallon of concentrate for $99.

My suggestion, just plant grass seed (can't tell you what kind because your profile doesn't tell me where you live), and keep it cut at 3" or so (depending on what grass you end up with). Over time, the grass will choke out the weeds.

[dnm]

Im in Central Ohio

[Cole]

Linear- Does that red plastic cup help the grass grow? :lol: :lol:

[linear]

The cup isn't an integral part of the program, although it is a fine delivery mechanism for naturally carbonated beverages...

[Cole]

The cup isn't an integral part of the program, although it is a fine delivery mechanism for naturally carbonated beverages...
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[dnm]

im gonna try that, just litter the area with red cups!

[linear]

You got the right idea: fill and drain enough red cups, you won't give a damn how the grass looks.