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Abbotsford, B.C

I was talking to a nearby neighbor about the fact that my future pumpkin patch was a field of grass, and she suggested that I use round-up to kill the grass instead of trying to rotortill it in. She said that it won't stay in the soil very long, so it would be safe to use for pumpkins. If this were true this would definitely be the better option, but I just wanted to check it by the people here first. Has anyone had experience with Round-up, & would it be safe to use? Hope someone can help here.

Cameron

3/10/2005 7:34:18 PM

Ottawa, Ohio

Round-up is safe and once its in contact with the soil it will not harm you plants. I would use it if your worried about killing the grass.

3/10/2005 7:51:37 PM

Okla

But remember, it only works on it if it is Green!

3/10/2005 8:45:12 PM

Pemberton, BC

Cameron,
I've used alot of round-up over the years and it will be fine in your pumpkin garden. Thomas is right though, you have to wait for the grass to "green up". Round-up goes straight to the roots so once you see your grass starting to turn brown, you can get your rotavator in their. Chad

3/10/2005 9:00:13 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Fire always works.

3/10/2005 10:45:15 PM

Whidbey Island

How about a tiller?

3/10/2005 11:47:48 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

Actually, the grass is very green, and already over half a foot in some places. This is very good news for me, thanks everyone, this is going to save me a lot of pains.

Cameron

3/11/2005 1:08:27 AM

Western Pa.

Camera,

It may not look like Roundup "worked" until after a few days!

3/11/2005 5:58:57 AM

[email protected]

It needs to be more than just green. It needs to be actively growing or at least getting started.

3/11/2005 6:22:46 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Roundup works best in the fall. At that time the grass is building up root reserves for the winter and will take it in quickly. Even if you don't get a complete kill from the Roundup, the plant will be weakened to the point that it will die from winter stress. I prefer Roundup over tillage, as tillage is a good way to lower your soil organic matter.

3/11/2005 1:40:13 PM

Oz

Cut it up(bush hog). Till it in.
All that grass is compost for the soil.
I did use round up along the fenceline in january.
The grass is now dead.
I belive grass(fescue),does grow here
during the winter.It has been in the 50/60s.

3/11/2005 5:23:39 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

I don't know about cutting it up; especially at this time of year, the roots would probably just send up more new shoots from all of their energy reservoirs, so the problem wouldn't have been eliminated at all. However, if I did use Round-up, how long would I have to wait before the grass dies? Also, if Round-up has been used to kill the grass, do I need to haul all that dead grass away? Or can I till it in? This is some of what I need to know a bit more about before I risk using it.

Cameron

3/12/2005 12:15:42 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

How long you have to wait depends a lot on temperature. The warmer it is, the quicker the Roundup will work. I would wait at least until it looks good and dead, so you know that it had time to translocate to the roots. Whether or not you till it in, you will probably need to add a little nitrogen as some will be tied up by bacteria in the decomposition of the grass and roots. According to a lot of USDA people, tillage actually increases the loss of organic matter, kills worms and messes up the soil structure. I prefer to keep my tillage to the minimum. I have seen from a lot of area farmers that notill farming over time really inproves the soil. If it works for corn and soybeans, why not pumpkins?

3/14/2005 2:01:19 PM

Knopp, Germany

good question iowgian. when one of us shows that it does work, then it will be another proven way to grow a 1300 plus pound atlantic giant, till then, someone has to show us. up till now, no one, at least no one here that will speak up, has done very well with no till AG growth.

i wold love to see that, i hate tilling..lol

3/14/2005 2:59:29 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I may be forced into very minimal tillage this year. My tiller is on it's last legs and the arthritis in my shoulder is really limiting my activity. I think I will give the notill a try, along with a good cover of mulch and weed pulling by my 13 year old son, who also is growing AG's this year. I will probably set up a grower diary to keep people posted on how it works. I have fairly decent soil and last year, our first year with good see, was fairly successful. We has a couple of 400+ pumpkins, plus a 449 and a 633.5 on the same plant. We thought they were different vines but turned out to be secondaries on the same vine. We learned to do a better job of pruning. We did a little tillage last year, but not a lot, so I am optomistic for this year.

3/14/2005 5:39:55 PM

Knopp, Germany

Ok, best of luck Iowegian, will be looking forward to your diary!

owen

3/15/2005 1:19:38 AM