VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > Main > RV General Discussion/News
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #21  
Old 08-03-2017, 07:03 PM
rv7charlie rv7charlie is offline
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pocahontas MS
Posts: 3,884
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisRhodes View Post
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.
4800 x 80 in central MS. Ours is bermuda, too, and our primary invader is also 'dallas grass', due to how common it is on the surrounding land (yards). We use MSMA (or the generic replacement), typically a few weeks after the dallas grass has gotten going.

If you have much clay (we do), and you don't have a good crown, it'll likely be soggy for days after a rain.

Best advice so far is to contact the local state/county ag agent. Bermuda is great (good root structure; doesn't grow too fast; stays relatively low) if your climate will support it, but it's not going to work everywhere.

Charlie
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 08-03-2017, 07:32 PM
TXFlyGuy TXFlyGuy is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Jazz Town, USA, TX
Posts: 501
Default

Yes, Bermuda is good. But it requires a lot of water. And it likes to be mowed often (every 3rd day), and short, around 2 to 2.5".
Our runway has some of this on the south end. The runway is flat here. It is sloped a bit on the north half, with excellent drainage. The soil does not hold enough water to support Bermuda on our north half.

Good, frequent mowing is the best defense against weeds. Plus, when it's all mowed (weeds and all), it looks pretty darn good!
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 08-04-2017, 05:37 AM
Bill Boyd's Avatar
Bill Boyd Bill Boyd is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Landing field "12VA"
Posts: 1,530
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisRhodes View Post
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.
That right there may have been the post worth the whole year of VAF donations for me. Hop-Along could always use some mogul conrtol, and I was never sure a vibratory roller was the right answer.
__________________
Bill Boyd

Hop-Along Aerodrome (12VA)
RV-6A - N30YD - Built '98 / sold '20
RV-10 - N130YD reserved - under construction

donating monthly to the VAF - thanks, Doug
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 08-04-2017, 06:09 AM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 3,179
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisRhodes View Post
In the early spring I put 2 or 3 20ton dump trucks of sand material and drag in with a tractor and cross tie type drag. Fills in the washboard effect and bermuda grass loves it.
I agree the Bermuda grass loves sandy soil. Mower blades are not so lucky. My farm has relatively sandy soil and it eats a set of heavy duty mower blades every season.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 08-04-2017, 06:32 AM
TXFlyGuy TXFlyGuy is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Jazz Town, USA, TX
Posts: 501
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by humptybump View Post
I agree the Bermuda grass loves sandy soil. Mower blades are not so lucky. My farm has relatively sandy soil and it eats a set of heavy duty mower blades every season.
I change the blades on my push mower two times each mowing season. And this is for my personal lawn, 419 tiff Bermuda (fairway grass).
My mower shop recommends buying new blades vs. sharpening the old ones. Not that much cost difference.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 08-04-2017, 06:39 AM
rleffler's Avatar
rleffler rleffler is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Delaware, OH (KDLZ)
Posts: 4,196
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rv7boy View Post
Also, I thought it would be a good idea to crown the runway so the water would run off to the sides.
I have a friend that put a decent crown on his grass runway. Early one morning I flew in with plenty of dew on the grass. It was a weird experience as I started sliding sideways down the crown. I was just hoping I would come to a stop before getting to the edge of the runway. (I did) I suspect I didn't hit the runway dead center.
__________________
Bob Leffler
N410BL - RV10 Flying
http://mykitlog.com/rleffler
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 08-04-2017, 06:54 AM
DennisRhodes DennisRhodes is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Taylorsville, Ga
Posts: 798
Default

As for mowing the bermuda, we never touch it with a tractor or bush hog. Use a Xmark 60 inch mower and cut it in 1/2 the time and great results. Usually start on the centerline and throw all the grass to the outside.
__________________
DRRhodes
2020 VAF Supporter
RV9 N908DR
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 08-04-2017, 07:47 AM
BenNabors BenNabors is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Alabama
Posts: 127
Default Soil pH is key

You will be on the right track after talking to the local extension office. I have found that the key to managing turf grasses is to focus on the soil pH. If the pH is off, the grasses cannot absorb the nutrients. When I was younger I had a problem with the grass turning yellow and I would add more fertilizer, it would green up for a few days and then go yellow again, I had the soil tested and the pH was 3.4. I had to add 1 ton of lime per 1000 square feet to get the pH to neutral (6.8-7.0). Because of all the nutrients that I had added were locked up due to pH, when the lime was added it released it. I had to cut grass every day for a month or more. If I missed a day due to rain, I had to cut it twice the next day. Lesson learned! Once you get the pH right and add nutrients, the grass will choke out most weeds.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 08-04-2017, 02:23 PM
TXFlyGuy TXFlyGuy is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Jazz Town, USA, TX
Posts: 501
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisRhodes View Post
As for mowing the bermuda, we never touch it with a tractor or bush hog. Use a Xmark 60 inch mower and cut it in 1/2 the time and great results. Usually start on the centerline and throw all the grass to the outside.
We use a BobCat 61" mower. It does a real nice job. I posted several photos here.
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:24 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.