Will they wreck my field?

[jhm47]

"Nothing against Roundup...other than one application is not the end of it."

Correct! That is because it has no residual effect. Once it hits the soil, it's narurally degraded into harmless substances. It only affects green plant tissue. You can dump it on the ground and let plant roots ingest it, and it will have no effect. It kills target plants by inhibiting their ability to produce some essential enzymes that allow them to live. Plants that are tolerant to Roundup have a special gene that allows them to metabilize the Roundup and this allows them to continue to produce these enzymes.

It also has no effect on the seeds of weeds that are already in the soil, so they will germinate and continue to cause problems.

 

[Dino]

Been there and done it. As far as commercial weed killers I wouldn't use anything else. But to work and fertilize with minimal cost... nothing and I mean nothing beats a group of hogs!

 

[gruberguy]

I believe I'd brushog it.... Then spray with 2, 4D, or similiar herbicide... One that is only meant for broadleaf weeds/saplings/brush etc..... Why spray Roundup and kill all your rye,fescue, bermuba etc???

 

[Back to Nature]

"Nothing against Roundup...other than one application is not the end of it."

Correct! That is because it has no residual effect. Once it hits the soil, it's narurally degraded into harmless substances. It only affects green plant tissue. You can dump it on the ground and let plant roots ingest it, and it will have no effect. It kills target plants by inhibiting their ability to produce some essential enzymes that allow them to live. Plants that are tolerant to Roundup have a special gene that allows them to metabilize the Roundup and this allows them to continue to produce these enzymes.

It also has no effect on the seeds of weeds that are already in the soil, so they will germinate and continue to cause problems.

I don't like Round-Up because I don't like Monsanto or GMOs.

 

[woodsie]

"Nothing against Roundup...other than one application is not the end of it."

Correct! That is because it has no residual effect. Once it hits the soil, it's narurally degraded into harmless substances. It only affects green plant tissue. You can dump it on the ground and let plant roots ingest it, and it will have no effect. It kills target plants by inhibiting their ability to produce some essential enzymes that allow them to live. Plants that are tolerant to Roundup have a special gene that allows them to metabilize the Roundup and this allows them to continue to produce these enzymes.

It also has no effect on the seeds of weeds that are already in the soil, so they will germinate and continue to cause problems.

Yes, I figured the round up would do nothing for all the seeds that are laying on the ground...Today I went to pull out a few of the dried weeds that were out in the spot that I am spreading my goat manure out and planning on planting, well the stalks break off but I am dropping tons of seeds everywhere...sigh! I may try burning the field before I send in the pigs so at least I destroy some of the seeds littering the field. I could really use some deep tilling anyhow, it is loose for 3" and then gets hardpan....bring on the hogpower!!!

I am going to try the animal power route this year....I will give it a go with the pigs in the fallow weed patch and in the garden area I have at least 6" of goat manure that will hopefully smother out weeds and for any poor weeds that make it through well I plan to run mobile bunny and chicken cages down the rows to keep down the other weeds...plus a bunch of woodchip mulch around the seedlings.... Hopefully I will win the battle of the weeds or at least have the upper hand!

 

[EllieMay]

Since you've already got the pigs on order, I would go ahead and try them. I know they'd be awesome for your garden area (to till up the soil for you and fertilize it as they go). For future weed/grass control, you might want to consider a few sheep (or even goats). We have hair sheep, and right now they're in a small temporary winter pasture that they've eaten down to nothing. Yes, livestock will eat what they like first, then if left there long enough, they will eat what they don't necessarily like until it's all gone. And like Liz mentioned, we'll go ahead and re-seed the area with more grass once I move the sheep out.

Good luck with your pigs and do let us know how well it worked out for you!

We're rootin' for you! (pun intended!)