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Moomps
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 12:58pm
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I bought a cabin that hadn't been used for at least 6 years. As you can see from the picture, the weeds had taken the place over. Since that time, I cut them all the way down, but I'm not sure what to do this spring to keep them from coming back. I don't think there's any grass left, but I'm willing to over seed the area just to get it started. Should I weed-kill the area first or what suggestions do all you have?
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creeky
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 01:23pm
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I would just keep mowing. throw down grass seed.
how lawn like do you want it to be?
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Malamute
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 01:40pm
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I think I'd try just spot spraying the bad weeds and seeding grass and keeping it mowed if you can be around often enough.
Your weeds are different then here. We get Russian Thistle (tumbleweed) and some small burrs I call sand burrs. Both are evil incarnate. I havent been able to keep up with the weeds since my back has been messed up. Just pulling the small ones works great. Once they get big, its way more difficult to get rid of them or pull.
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Everett
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 01:59pm
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I'm with "creeky" I have been amazed at how quickly grass takes over when you keep things mowed, at least here in Iowa.
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Moomps
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 03:12pm
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That's kinda what I thought might be the answer. I was thinking to spray the bad stuff - like the burrs that my dog is a magnet for and then to see if the grass I throw out would overtake the weeds in the central part of what used to be a lawn. I've heard that a healthy lawn is the best answer for weed control.
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Don_P
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 04:16pm
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Yup, grass can handle mowing, very few weeds can. If you can keep it mowed for a few years most of the seed bank in the soil will be used up and the problem will be much smaller
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beachman
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 05:02pm
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Cut the weeds to keep under control. Better weeds than dirt and mud.
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bobrok
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 05:18pm
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Lay down sheets of plastic for a sunny day or two. That'll kill everything and dry it up. Rake it all up and start a lawn.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 6 Apr 2015 07:14pm
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If your going to cut/mow the weeds down, do yourself a favour and bag it to dispose of it. Last thing you want to do is to spread seed everywhere and in some cases, even bits of errant plants can take root and grow.
Once mowed as short as you can go, then go nuts on seed. Chemicals IMO are dubious anywhere near your water source, keep that in mind.
I had a similar situation on a previous property.... Maybe I was a tad crazy after having lost the battle yr 1, so I got ahold of some old carpet and carpeted the ground for 1 year (looked like hell) but nothing grew & water got through just fine. The following spring I pulled up the manky carpet (man it was disgusting) after cutting it into manageable sections (quite heavy) let it all dry out and dropped a match on it. I must say I was amazed & surprised (negatively) at how fast that carpet burned & the toxins from it... Haven't had any carpet in any of my homes ever since, except for a couple of little runners by the doors.
Seeded the area after & the lawn became a beautiful thing and very productive as well.
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adakseabee
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# Posted: 7 Apr 2015 04:17pm - Edited by: adakseabee
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I am for simply cutting the weeds with a mower or weed wacker, keeping them cut, and letting nature take it course. The best grass is grass that is grown from seed of grasses native to the area where you are trying to get grass to grow. If there are no native grasses in the area, then why try to grow grass seed grown in Oregon and bought at your local Home Depot when you live in Virginia (my situation)? As for the looks of a "lawn of cut weeds", my older brother once told me, "It's green, ain't it?"
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missouriboy
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# Posted: 8 Apr 2015 08:29am
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I had a similar situation. Like Don P said, keep it mowed and the seeds in the soil bank will come back. Spot spray if needed. Worked for me.
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old243
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# Posted: 8 Apr 2015 09:27am
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At our hunt camp , if the weeds are getting ahead of us. I have drag made up of an angle iron frame the width of my 4 wheeler bike. On this there is a large crusher screen and a tire and rim for weight. Drag this around through the weeds, will also remove or mangle small brush. Keep at it till it looks good We broadcast a clover mix , that did quite well and the deer and critters love it. You can also drag your road, to fill in ruts and potholes, also do the sides to knock the weeds and brush down. We also do some of our bush trails, to keep them open. The nice part it was just made out of stuff that was laying around, I would rather ride the bike, than chase a lawnmower, anyday. old243
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