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Establish a 1-acre forb planting from fescue or sod
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Fall Start
- Burn, mow, hay, or graze in August or early September. Allow regrowth for two weeks.
- Spray with 2 quart/acre of glyphosate herbicide (or a 2 percent solution) in mid-September.
- Spray with 1 quart/acre of glyphosate herbicide (or a 1 percent solution) in mid-October.
- Spray with 1 quart/acre glyphosate (or a 1 percent solution) in early November, but before a hard freeze. A third herbicide treatment is preferred, but not always possible depending on weather.
- Burn residual duff (dead vegetation) if needed in late November to December.
- Mix 5 pounds recommended forb seed with kitty litter, and broadcast on burned area from December through mid-February.
- Immediately roll, harrow, or drive over the seed with ATV tires to ensure good seed and soil contact.
- Follow up treatment with grass selective herbicide, including clethodim (Select) or sethoxydim (Poast), may be necessary the next spring.
- First growing season: Frequently mow to height of 8 inches to remove competitive annual weeds.
- Second growing season: Sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Note: periodic burning (about once every three years) will help maintain vigor of the forbs.
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Spring Start
- Burn, mow, hay, or graze in early spring. Allow regrowth to reach 6 to 8 inches.
- Spray with 2 quart/acre of glyphosate herbicide (or a 2 percent solution).
- Mow annual weeds as needed to keep them from going to seed from June to July.
- Spray with 1 quart/acre glyphosate herbicide (or a 1 percent solution) in August.
- Mow annual weeds as needed to keep them from going to seed.
- Spray with 1 quart/acre glyphosate herbicide (or a 1 percent solution) in October.
- At this point the steps are the same for both fall and spring starts. Follow steps 5-10 described in the fall start section.
Note: periodic burning (about once every three years) will help maintain vigor of the forbs.