Questions on TnM into existing rye

[djw195]

Hello everyone, new to the forum and happy to be part of good company.

I have a couple general questions on throw and mow. First, I have an existing stand of WR, right now it's about knee high. I want to broadcast brassica into here in July. My question is: should I mow this stand a bit to make sure it's not too thick to mow later with a weed whip? Or just let it go until july, broadcast, mow, I also have a spiked tooth harrow drag that I can use to roll the WR and press the seed into the ground. Anything I should be concerned with here?

Another question: I have a spot in this same area that needs to be screened and I'm considering Egyptian wheat. Is tnm a good method for ew into existing WR? My thoughts are same as brassicas; broadcast, mow or roll, harrow drag. Should I also potentially spray or not worry about it as the rye should terminate fast enough on its own?

Along with the above ew question, next yr when it's time to plant again, can you just TnM right into existing ew, basically broadcast, roll ew and it's good?

As a note, I only have an atv, sprayer, harrow drag, and basic yard tools. Also, I live 4 hours from this property, so visits are about once a month so timing is key.

Thanks all and I really appreciate the input!

 

[dogghr]

Quick answer for you on the WR. I always just wait till late June, early Aug, throw down brassica seed, mow down on top of that. It can help run your atv over plot to get a little compaction of seed if you want. Brassica love N so adding 19-19-19 at planting and then Urea 30 days later gives it a boost but I'm guessing as to what you your soil test is. Get a soil test if you haven't done so and it might save you time and money. I also overseed RC and WR into browsed brassica in early nov to keep no bare dirt coming around in spring. Then you can rotate back to the WR mix the following fall. I'll let others comment on the EW as I'm not much fan of it with my experience. Too much work and expense to get a good stand that doesn't hold up well in my fall storms. Good luck. Welcome aboard.

 

[djw195]

Thanks for the reply.

My mower is a weed eater for now and the rye stand is pretty thick, do I need to be worried about it being too thick in july, weed eat now at about 12 to 18" to stunt growth but have enough thatch to mow and drag in july? That's kind of my dilemma, I don't want to have the rye so thick I can't get seed to the soil or mow it.

I did get a soil test, pH about 6.3 and all it called for is 50lb of N per acre, this is only about a 1/4 acre however. I plan to hit it with N at planting and another time before fall.

In lieu of ew, any suggestions on other screens for both immediate and long term? I'm all ears. Honestly I'll probably leave a thin strip of rye up all year as a kind of screen, won't do much but it's something.

Also, what is RC?

 

[Creek chub]

RC = red clover

 

[catscratch]

You can be the judge of what's too thick.... but I like my thatch standing vertical when I seed and horizontal afterwards. Vertical veg let's seed fall through to the ground. I seldom mow any time before seeding.

 

[djw195]

You can be the judge of what's too thick.... but I like my thatch standing vertical when I seed and horizontal afterwards. Vertical veg let's seed fall through to the ground. I seldom mow any time before seeding.

Does anyone get too concerned about the thatch being too thick and making it harder for the seeds to get to the ground or plants to grow up through it?

My plan was to mow the stand at about knee height and hope that it remained vertical until seeding in July. I planted this stand at about 200 lb per acre as a failing food plot so it's quite dense. I'll get pics and evaluate more.

 

[catscratch]

Does anyone get too concerned about the thatch being too thick and making it harder for the seeds to get to the ground or plants to grow up through it?

My plan was to mow the stand at about knee height and hope that it remained vertical until seeding in July. I planted this stand at about 200 lb per acre as a failing food plot so it's quite dense. I'll get pics and evaluate more.

Not a concern to me. I've never had thatch too thick.

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[dogghr]

Does anyone get too concerned about the thatch being too thick and making it harder for the seeds to get to the ground or plants to grow up through it?

My plan was to mow the stand at about knee height and hope that it remained vertical until seeding in July. I planted this stand at about 200 lb per acre as a failing food plot so it's quite dense. I'll get pics and evaluate more.

You can do that if you want but I doubt a concern. Now here’s another thing to do. Spread seed and mow half high your rye. The stubble keeps deer form browsing early growth giving seed a chance. Deer don’t like their face in that stubble. And since you have small plot. Another with such a small plot I would stick more with a grain and RC mix and if you want throw in the brassica also. Jst brassica will be eaten quickly in a small plot. Grains and clover more forgiving.


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[djw195]

You can do that if you want but I doubt a concern. Now here’s another thing to do. Spread seed and mow half high your rye. The stubble keeps deer form browsing early growth giving seed a chance. Deer don’t like their face in that stubble. And since you have small plot. Another with such a small plot I would stick more with a grain and RC mix and if you want throw in the brassica also. Jst brassica will be eaten quickly in a small plot. Grains and clover more forgiving.


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Definitely agree on not going full brassica, it'll be tillage radish, oats, rye, peas most likely. Brassica doesn't last long in these plots.

I went to the plot today to check on the half frost seeded with clover, the rain and wind knocked down some of the rye. As I drove through the rye I realized that it's pretty easy to flatten, so I I might stick to that for now. Not sure if the rye will get woody by late july or not, never messed with it before. Either way, it looks like it will do a good job.

I'll probably knock the rye back a bit just for my own sake, probably unnecessary though.

 

[Creek chub]

I planted two plots today in standing rye. I broadcasted lime and fertilizer and started pulling my drag harrow and notice really quick after about 20 ft that the rye flattened out. I stopped and broadcasted Sunn Hemp, buckwheat and sun flowers and resumed dragging the plots. The rye was about chest high and thin enough to see exposed soil.

We gotta a good rain right when I finished so hopefully things look good in a couple weeks.

 

[djw195]

I planted two plots today in standing rye. I broadcasted lime and fertilizer and started pulling my drag harrow and notice really quick after about 20 ft that the rye flattened out. I stopped and broadcasted Sunn Hemp, buckwheat and sun flowers and resumed dragging the plots. The rye was about chest high and thin enough to see exposed soil.

We gotta a good rain right when I finished so hopefully things look good in a couple weeks.

Yes, the rye seems to flatten easily. I also noticed that the clover I frost seeded into rye was growing better in the shade, which makes me think that flattening could be better than mowing. I think the hot sun bakes the plants fast and dries everything out. Going to re seed more clover and likely flatten for the time being. Excited to try it later with brassica.

I see weeds coming up through the thatch a bit, does anyone get concerned about that? Or just control it with mowing later?

 

[Creek chub]

Yes, the rye seems to flatten easily. I also noticed that the clover I frost seeded into rye was growing better in the shade, which makes me think that flattening could be better than mowing. I think the hot sun bakes the plants fast and dries everything out. Going to re seed more clover and likely flatten for the time being. Excited to try it later with brassica.

I see weeds coming up through the thatch a bit, does anyone get concerned about that? Or just control it with mowing later?

Sorry, I’m no help on this question. This is my first attempt at throw and mow/drag.

Mowing and herbicide treatment should minimize weed growth until your plot thickens