Managing grasses/weeds - Ask Extension
Hello OSU Extension,
We have a few acres of land that we need help learning how to manage properly. It is originally riparian/floodplain, turned at f...
Knowledgebase
Managing grasses/weeds #875244
Asked June 29, 2024, 2:03 PM EDT
Hello OSU Extension,
We have a few acres of land that we need help learning how to manage properly. It is originally riparian/floodplain, turned at field, and now is a mix of tall grasses, sweet pea, blackberry, thistle and natives (snowberry, horsetail).
I would like to control the weeds and let the natives grow. I would also like to rebuild the soil to be able to grow food eventually. We’ve mowed some sections to manage the weeds, but i am concerned about drying out the soil.
Can you please provide some recommendations or resources for me to learn from?
Thanks so much,
Emily
Wasco County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello,
There are several good courses offered in our area- the Land Stewards Program in hood river county would likely be a great fit. Ann Harris is the contact at OSU Extension there. I have also attached the link below. The Master Gardener Program can also be a good source of information in both counties.
TO your point of mowing and drying the ground out- the plants remaining there will do far more to dry the ground down. Mulched mowing's typically help hold moisture in.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/land-steward/land-steward-online-courses
