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  #11  
Old 08-02-2017, 10:39 AM
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JonJay JonJay is offline
 
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Excellent and well educated responses. Thank you all.
We have over ten acres just in runway and green space, so it is a lot to deal with. I have contacted the WSU Extension Service for some help also.
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  #12  
Old 08-02-2017, 05:12 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JonJay View Post
Excellent and well educated responses. Thank you all.
We have over ten acres just in runway and green space, so it is a lot to deal with. I have contacted the WSU Extension Service for some help also.
Probably the best source of information. Each region's grasses are different. They might have good herbicide reports developed from regional university extension stations already. That is where I have found the most reliable information and comparison of efficacy of different formulations.
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  #13  
Old 08-02-2017, 05:31 PM
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Probably the best source of information. Each region's grasses are different. They might have good herbicide reports developed from regional university extension stations already. That is where I have found the most reliable information and comparison of efficacy of different formulations.
Thanks Bill. I agree. My Dad worked for OSU (Oregon State) as an Extension Agent for 27 years. He has also been retired for 27 years but I am pretty sure they don't use DDT anymore
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  #14  
Old 08-02-2017, 08:37 PM
iwannarv iwannarv is offline
 
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Work with your extension agent as you have already done so. There are formulas of 2,4D acids that are very low to no volatility, and would help saften up the possibility of getting somebody's garden. Mind labeled rates, talk with your local agricultural service retailer as well for recommendations. Used responsibly these are safe, but good to be safety conscious. Yes for clover you'll need some dicamba (use DGA safened type) , and see what the golf courses use for preemerge herbicides legal for that application. I could PM you some brand names (I am a sales manager for a large ag chem wholesale distributor)
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  #15  
Old 08-03-2017, 11:43 AM
TXFlyGuy TXFlyGuy is offline
 
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My approach has been to simply mow, on a regular basis. No chemicals used. This was on the advice of our local seed store in Justin, Texas.

If we applied any weed killer, it would wipe out 70% of our ground cover. While we do have several grasses growing, a large part of it is various broad leaf grassy weeds and flowers.

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Last edited by TXFlyGuy : 08-03-2017 at 05:51 PM.
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  #16  
Old 08-03-2017, 12:47 PM
dtw_rv6 dtw_rv6 is offline
 
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I know it is considered invasive in some places, but I like Zoysia grass in my yard. Very dense root system that chokes out everything around it.

Downside is that it turns yellow / white in cold climates as it goes dormant.
It also doesn't grow very quickly, and seeding is difficult. Most applications are via thousands of individual plugs.

Upside is that it is very robust and greens up nicely when temps return.

Don
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  #17  
Old 08-03-2017, 01:11 PM
rv4bill rv4bill is offline
 
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Talking Don't use Zosia

Ask me how I know

You would need to be a commercial Sod operation to keep a zoysia runway.

It will get soft and spongy if you let it grow to 4" and will need constant watering in the summer if it were not to rain often. First cold snap it goes dormant to an ugly brown. But on the bright side, cinch bugs aren't a problem with it.
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  #18  
Old 08-03-2017, 01:24 PM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMRacer View Post
I mow our mostly fescue turf 3 1/2 to 4 inches in the heat of the summer, and 2 1/2 in the spring and fall.
This explains why my 150hp RV takes forever to get into the air
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  #19  
Old 08-03-2017, 03:40 PM
DennisRhodes DennisRhodes is offline
 
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Our 2000 ft x 50 wide in Northwest Ga is primarily bermuda. The farmer who get the hay on the balance of the filed uses pre emergent in the EARLY spring . That seems to kill out the weeds. We have no irrigation so rainy spring produces great grass and dry seasons can be hard on it. bermuda likes to be cut and does not grow tall or spindly. The worst enemy is "Dallis Grass" may not be the official name but is a blade grass that grows in clumps and will take over the bermuda if not sprayed with 2 -4 D . It Is a constant battle when really wet. As for cutting usually every 8 to 10 days down to 2 inches.
In the early spring I put 2 or 3 20tn dump trucks of sand material from a local wash plant ( has Zero mineral growth value) and drag in with a tractor and cross tie type drag. Fills in the washboard effect and bermuda grass loves it. If I could put in a picture of it I would !!! sent me a text 7708 two three3426 and I'll will return a picture for interested persons.
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  #20  
Old 08-03-2017, 04:54 PM
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rv7boy rv7boy is offline
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I used to dream of building a grass runway. (Now I dream of finishing my RV7.) Glad to read the ideas about grass types. I used to think I would sow the "landing zone" (first third on each end) with a grass that would hold up to many landings. Hey, I dreamed of having fly-ins at our bed-and-breakfast, so there would be lots of landings, right?

Also, I thought it would be a good idea to crown the runway so the water would run off to the sides.

This is a good thread and should be helpful to several folks.
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