Mowing tuff grass

37chief · Apr 1, 2019

I mowed some bottom land today. Good going, flat, and not too wet. There is a certain type of grass that is growing I a small area. Every year the patch is a little bigger. My mower just has a hard time cutting. I just sharpened the flail mower blades. The tractor has plenty of power. The animals don't eat the stuff. It is dark green. and grows to about a foot tall, and is very thick. Anyone encounter a tough grass that is hard cutting, and nothing eats it? Stan

paul · Apr 1, 2019

Can?t really help identify.

In a couple acre corner I would sickle mow and bale on a neighbors pasture, there was 1/4 acre of very fine stem grass mixed in with the rest of the usual mixed grasses around here. That stuff would bring my sickle to its knees, hammer, slip the belt, fold over.

That tiny patch would about make me cry. It took longer to get that 1/4 acre cut than the other 1.75 acres plus my 3/4 long field road to get there.

I learned to dread that little area, for ?free? hay.

Finally got a disc mower, buzz through all of it easy one time boy was I smiles; and the following year our arrangement changed and I haven?t had to cut it since.

Paul

kcm.MN · Apr 2, 2019

With a little research, I found out about one possible grass that could be what you describe. It's called "Kikuyugrass". While it's usually a light color, there are varieties that can be darker. It's said to be nearly impossible to mow.

Your post lacks much description about the grasses you encounter, so don't know if this might be it or not. However, a little more reading and I'm beginning to think this might be it, or at least a relative of what you're finding.

Check these out:
http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_livingand_succeedingwith_kikuyugrass/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennisetum_clandestinum

37chief · Apr 2, 2019

Thanks for the reply. Neither one is the plant. The stocks are about the size of a pencil lead. Stan

Dean · Apr 2, 2019

Look up reed canary grass.

If that's what it is, it will get much taller than one foot if not mowed.

Dean

ohiojim · Apr 2, 2019

sounds like what we have here, i always called it swamp grass, has a round stem and i've never saw it get much over 2 foot tall, others around here call it wire grass. it does mow hard and seems to like the wetter ground.

MarkB_MI · Apr 2, 2019

I have no idea what it might be, but you might try to convince the land owner to kill it with herbicides and reseed the area with a more desirable grass. Otherwise it's likely to take over.

Russ from MN · Apr 2, 2019

Yes, the canary grass in N MN gets as tall as the tractor and takes a lot of power to mow!

Russ from MN · Apr 2, 2019

Sounds like it would be excellent erosion control, should be left on the hillsides, but I suppose it would burn.

Roger in Iowa · Apr 2, 2019

That is what we called wire grass in Kansas. It has a high tensile strength too, try to pull a stalk in to.

pms · Apr 2, 2019

I think it would be easier to mow with a bushhog type mower if you have one rather than a flail mower.btdt
Paul

Texasmark1 · Apr 2, 2019

I have some of that. It grows at the edges of my pond....likes water as you said. I use pond herbicides, not directly aimed at it, coontail moss is what I am after but it kills that and cattails. I use Aquathol Super K granular from Aquacide Co.

Mowing tuff grass

37chief

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paul

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kcm.MN

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37chief

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Dean

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ohiojim

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MarkB_MI

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Russ from MN

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pms

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