fighting a literal uphill battle with invasives

[finnsfinnsheep]

first it was Pennsylvania Sedge in the upper pasture. I will eventually tackle that. Now on top of random stinging nettle and wild parsnip, my lower pasture is FULL of GARLIC MUSTARD!!!!! I am trying to avoid going with glyphosate, I really don't like the idea of using it in areas where I am Feeding My Food .... But I am getting very annoyed and overwhelmed with the random invasives taking over and I can't seem to keep up with it. I have read to pull it, to leave it alone, to burn it, etc. etc. Just venting and looking for people who have similar struggles. RAHHHH

 

[Baymule]

I bought 25 acres, part of a 3 generation cattle ranch. It has tons of invasives and unwanted weeds. I’ve tried mowing, doesn’t work. Recently I battled thistles. Tall as my head thistles. I machete chopped them, on about half I sprayed the stumps with Grazon. I don’t want to use poisons, but I’m at my wits end. I’m spot spraying. Grazon eliminates all broad leaf plants, but not grass. I do have beneficial forbs that I want to keep, so I’m not spraying the whole place.

I have silver leafe nightshade, Jerusalem cherry nightshade, both of which I have pulled up by the wagon load and they just keep coming. But I have reduced them so there’s that. I have Carolina horse nettle, it has thorns that pierce leather gloves.

The battle rages on.

 

[finnsfinnsheep]

I bought 25 acres, part of a 3 generation cattle ranch. It has tons of invasives and unwanted weeds. I’ve tried mowing, doesn’t work. Recently I battled thistles. Tall as my head thistles. I machete chopped them, on about half I sprayed the stumps with Grazon. I don’t want to use poisons, but I’m at my wits end. I’m spot spraying. Grazon eliminates all broad leaf plants, but not grass. I do have beneficial forbs that I want to keep, so I’m not spraying the whole place.

I have silver leafe nightshade, Jerusalem cherry nightshade, both of which I have pulled up by the wagon load and they just keep coming. But I have reduced them so there’s that. I have Carolina horse nettle, it has thorns that pierce leather gloves.

The battle rages on.

Honestly I am quite happy just being on 3acre. I cannot imagine having more than this and fighting invasives/trying to create pasture out of crap. I have been slowly just clearing patches of invasive things and throwing down cover rye/clover for the season. I dream of the days where I can see paddocks full of actual grasses and legumes for sheep forage instead of patches of grass amongst woody brush !!!!!!!

 

[finnsfinnsheep]

in a shocking turn of events- it turns out bale grazing actually is crowding out the sedge. Was clearing new fence line and every spot I fed hay there was no sedge and only actual forage (rye/what have you). I'll be doing that heavily this summer/autumn for sure

 

[Weldman]

Got some hay for the pigs and now I have Russian Thistle here that we are fighting. Trying 20 plus percent vinegar and salt we will see in 24 hours or so, next on the list... 24D herbicide.
Got a bare spot in the yard that was disturbed, it grows there and along driveway to the point causing bad drifts of snow.
My last solution is burn it all!