WEST POINT, MS – The late summer/early fall planting season is quickly approaching, and for those that live in the far North, it’s here. Preparing a good seed bed is an important and often underappreciated step of the planting process. The following are tips for better soil preparation for planting seed this season.
It is really tough to prepare a good seed bed when trying to disc or till under massive amounts of green vegetation. A disc or tiller simply can’t work as it is supposed to with the tonnage of grass and weeds in the way. A properly timed, non-selective herbicide application can kill the unwanted weeds and dry them down so equipment can function much more efficiently, saving a lot of tractor/ATV time and fuel.
Many who are unfamiliar with herbicides are afraid of spraying a non-selective herbicide like Roundup® (glyphosate) in fear that it may affect their planting. Glyphosate is a contact only herbicide and has no soil or residual activity. In other words, if it doesn’t touch the green tissue of a living plant it is ineffective. This allows for spraying very close to planting time to help the plot get a jump start on any weeds. The ideal timing for mowing and spraying can take 2-4 weeks before planting to really get good results, so the time to act is now.
Read these tips for good pre-planting herbicide applications:
Read the label. The information on the herbicide labels contain great information and will identify what weeds it kills and what the recommended rate is.
Spray when grasses or broadleaf weeds are young and thriving. If the field is tall and overgrown, the results will often be less than desirable. If weeds are already tall and mature, mow first and return a few days later to spray the new re-growth, even if it is minimal.
For optimal results, use AMS (ammonium sulfate). AMS will increase the effectiveness of the herbicide by helping the weeds readily trans-locate the herbicide to the roots for a good kill.
Don’t skimp on water. Many times the correct amount of herbicide is used but not enough water is added to thoroughly spray the field. In a pre-plant burn down, always try and use 15-20 gallons of solution per acre.
Know the size of the field so you can apply the appropriate amount of solution. To practice and calibrate the sprayer, find a field and measure it with a GPS or use a range finder to determine the acreage. Fill the spray tank with just water and take note of the speed you travel and the amount of water you apply over the known area. This will eliminate guesswork and yield better spray results.
These tips are courtesy of Mossy Oak GameKeepers. GameKeepers offers consumers the latest information and products for total land and wildlife management. We’ve learned our lessons the hard way and through www.gamekeeperclub.com, GameKeepers magazine and TV series on Pursuit Channel, we share and explore the way of the GameKeeper.
To have your planting questions answered, call 662-494-4326.
