Clearing Johnson grass from hay fields

[dark roses]

I'm looking for ways to get rid of it for good. I've got a couple of hay fields where Johnson grass is starting to take over. Right now, the fields are mostly fescue, but I want to clean them up and plant some better grasses to improve my hay quality. I'm wondering what other people have done to control this weed. What are some different methods or products you've used that actually worked and how long did it take you to get it under control?

 

[vmxguy]

After your initial fescue cut, a good strategy is to purchase a wiper system to treat the Johnson Grass once it reaches about 18 inches tall. However, using glyphosate in the wiper is not the most effective long-term solution, as it can take many years of repeated wiping to completely eliminate the Johnson Grass with that chemical.

Instead, you should consider using a product called Pastora. It costs around $100 but is highly recommended because it goes a long way in a wiper system and is very effective at killing Johnson Grass. There are currently no known herbicides you can simply spray over your entire field that will selectively kill the Johnson Grass without also harming your fescue.

 

[hiii.fer]

Hitting it before it seeds and letting the fescue recover helps, it usually takes a couple of years of persistence to get it really under control, and reseeding with desirable grasses after clearing it makes a big difference in keeping it from coming back

 

[bin.bag]

My honest answer is it takes multiple seasons of aggressive management, hit it hard, don't let it go to seed, and be ready to spot treat for at least two years. There's no magic bullet, just persistence

 

[Alan]

@dark roses Johnson grass is stubborn. Plan on at least a couple of seasons of persistent control. Hit it before it goes to seed, let your fescue recover, and spot-treat any regrowth; patience is key here.