I just moved and the back of my property is about 1/4 acre and I had to rent
a brush mower to mow it down. The grass was a combination of grass, some
blackberry bushes, holes, crevices, and bare patches in areas. It basically
looked like a field and this was the first time I was able to mow it since
moving here.

If it was level, or somewhat less bumpy, and was grass and not a bunch of
brush, I could use my mower to do the job; but I don't have that ideal lawn
and have to work with what I got. :-)

I want to get away from having to rent a brush mower to mow a field and want
to find an alternative.

What I would like is:

1) Eliminate the small patch of blackberry bushes so they do not get
overgrown again and cause problems later.

2) Level the land a bit so there is no crevices and holes on an otherwise
level piece of land.

3) Be able to use a lawnmower, or riding lawnmower, to maintain the back 1/4
acre.

4) Do not want to go overboard with putting in fertilizer, sod, new grass;
as we are not sure if we are going to build back there or not. If bringing
in some dirt and planting seed is the best option, then I can do that
though; but I didn't want the weeds/brush/blackberries to interfere with the
new growth.

First thought, not a gardener by any means, is to now clean up the grass
clippings from the brush mower work that I did today so it is somewhat
clean. Then get a rototiller, or bobcat with attachment, to till the soil.
Then have a bobcat move the dirt around to make it a bit more level. Bring
in dirt if necessary, but it wouldn't be much dirt to bring in to make it
more level and easier to maintain in the future.

But with my above idea, I have to wonder if I am only postponing the obvious
in that as soon as the freshly tilled land gets sun and water; those little
seedlings of grass/blackberries/brush/weeds/etc... will just grow again. I
want the grass, but not the other stuff. :-)

I am not sure what I should be doing with that area, but I know I don't want
to use a brush mower every time it needs mowing. I would rather go buy a
riding mower once I have something easier to cut and easier to drive on.

Can anyone offer suggestions on a direction I should go to maybe make this
area manageable?




--


Tim Fierro *
Licensed Real Estate Agent & Private Investor
Retail, Wholesale, or Fast Cash; There is always a solution!
Main: 360-537-0120 * Fax: 360-537-0121
Pierce County: 253-227-9877 * King County: 206-353-7044

Tim Fierro wrote:
I just moved and the back of my property is about 1/4 acre and I had to rent
a brush mower to mow it down. The grass was a combination of grass, some
blackberry bushes, holes, crevices, and bare patches in areas. It basically
looked like a field and this was the first time I was able to mow it since
moving here.

If it was level, or somewhat less bumpy, and was grass and not a bunch of
brush, I could use my mower to do the job; but I don't have that ideal lawn
and have to work with what I got. :-)

I want to get away from having to rent a brush mower to mow a field and want
to find an alternative.

What I would like is:

1) Eliminate the small patch of blackberry bushes so they do not get
overgrown again and cause problems later.

2) Level the land a bit so there is no crevices and holes on an otherwise
level piece of land.

3) Be able to use a lawnmower, or riding lawnmower, to maintain the back 1/4
acre.

4) Do not want to go overboard with putting in fertilizer, sod, new grass;
as we are not sure if we are going to build back there or not. If bringing
in some dirt and planting seed is the best option, then I can do that
though; but I didn't want the weeds/brush/blackberries to interfere with the
new growth.

First thought, not a gardener by any means, is to now clean up the grass
clippings from the brush mower work that I did today so it is somewhat
clean. Then get a rototiller, or bobcat with attachment, to till the soil.
Then have a bobcat move the dirt around to make it a bit more level. Bring
in dirt if necessary, but it wouldn't be much dirt to bring in to make it
more level and easier to maintain in the future.

But with my above idea, I have to wonder if I am only postponing the obvious
in that as soon as the freshly tilled land gets sun and water; those little
seedlings of grass/blackberries/brush/weeds/etc... will just grow again. I
want the grass, but not the other stuff. :-)

I am not sure what I should be doing with that area, but I know I don't want
to use a brush mower every time it needs mowing. I would rather go buy a
riding mower once I have something easier to cut and easier to drive on.

Can anyone offer suggestions on a direction I should go to maybe make this
area manageable?


For just 1/4 acre, get a high-wheel push mower. You've already cut it
all down once with a brush hog, it will be easier now and the grass will
take over if you keep it mowed. Get some dirt to fill the ruts and
holes and sprinkle on some grass seed if you want. If the weeds and
blackberries keep coming back, get a sprayer and some 2,4-d weed killer
(and be careful with it.)

Bob

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
Tim Fierro wrote:
I just moved and the back of my property is about 1/4 acre and I had to
rent
a brush mower to mow it down. The grass was a combination of grass,
some
blackberry bushes, holes, crevices, and bare patches in areas. It
basically
looked like a field and this was the first time I was able to mow it
since
moving here.

For just 1/4 acre, get a high-wheel push mower. You've already cut it
all down once with a brush hog, it will be easier now and the grass will
take over if you keep it mowed. Get some dirt to fill the ruts and
holes and sprinkle on some grass seed if you want. If the weeds and
blackberries keep coming back, get a sprayer and some 2,4-d weed killer
(and be careful with it.)

Bob,

Thank you for the reply and the advice. Still considering a riding mower
though as there is another 1/4 acre out front that does have grass. Dirt
and seed, as well as massaging the ground to be a little bit level is easy;
so will end up doing that.

But I have to wonder about the grass clippings that are now on the area, and
the blackberry area. Should I take off the clippings and get back to bare
grass underneath these clippings, or allow those clippings to disintegrate
onto the existing areas? For the blackberry area, also where one of the
bigger holes area; would it be prudent to put down some form of vegetation
(blackberry) killer in that area, then add dirt to fill the hole? After
hole is filled, will grass seed grow with the veggie killer 12" underneath
it while still helping to kill the blackberries underneath?



--


Tim Fierro *
Licensed Real Estate Agent & Private Investor
Retail, Wholesale, or Fast Cash; There is always a solution!
Main: 360-537-0120 * Fax: 360-537-0121
Pierce County: 253-227-9877 * King County: 206-353-7044

Tim Fierro wrote:
"zxcvbob" wrote in message

Tim Fierro wrote: I just moved and the back of my property is
about 1/4 acre and I had to

rent

a brush mower to mow it down. The grass was a combination of
grass,

some

blackberry bushes, holes, crevices, and bare patches in areas.
It

basically

looked like a field and this was the first time I was able to mow
it

since

moving here.

For just 1/4 acre, get a high-wheel push mower. You've already cut
it all down once with a brush hog, it will be easier now and the
grass will take over if you keep it mowed. Get some dirt to fill
the ruts and holes and sprinkle on some grass seed if you want. If
the weeds and blackberries keep coming back, get a sprayer and some
2,4-d weed killer (and be careful with it.)


Bob,

Thank you for the reply and the advice. Still considering a riding
mower though as there is another 1/4 acre out front that does have
grass. Dirt and seed, as well as massaging the ground to be a little
bit level is easy; so will end up doing that.

But I have to wonder about the grass clippings that are now on the
area, and the blackberry area. Should I take off the clippings and
get back to bare grass underneath these clippings, or allow those
clippings to disintegrate onto the existing areas?

How much clippings are we talking about? Maybe let them dry out, then
mow again to disintegrate them? You don't want to shade out the grass,
but in general leaving the clippings is a good thing.


For the blackberry area, also where one of the bigger holes area;
would it be prudent to put down some form of vegetation (blackberry)
killer in that area, then add dirt to fill the hole? After hole is
filled, will grass seed grow with the veggie killer 12" underneath it
while still helping to kill the blackberries underneath?


That's why I said 2,4-d. It doesn't kill grass. Twelve inches? Just
bury it and spray it *if* if comes back and survives being mowed again.

Bob

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
How much clippings are we talking about? Maybe let them
dry out, then mow again to disintegrate them? You don't
want to shade out the grass, but in general leaving the
clippings is a good thing.

Grass, field, was about 2' tall when I cut. The brush mower I used just cut
the grass and bushes, but the clippings just drop and are not really
disintegrated. So there is this covering now of the area of the clippings.



--


Tim Fierro *
Licensed Real Estate Agent & Private Investor
Retail, Wholesale, or Fast Cash; There is always a solution!
Main: 360-537-0120 * Fax: 360-537-0121
Pierce County: 253-227-9877 * King County: 206-353-7044

Tim I agree wholeheartedly with what Bob has advised......

we have 2 acres, half of which was black-berry, sumac, brush, weeds ( a
mess)

when we arrived we had it bush-hogged once in fall and again in spring.
Since then we have mowed with riding mower..... its not a golf course by any
means but its mowable and bare-foot friendly.

Fill the holes and seed over in cool season, not summer.

Sue


"Tim Fierro" wrote in message
news:lF_vc.39436$pt3.30137@attbi_s03...
"zxcvbob" wrote in message
How much clippings are we talking about? Maybe let them
dry out, then mow again to disintegrate them? You don't
want to shade out the grass, but in general leaving the
clippings is a good thing.

Grass, field, was about 2' tall when I cut. The brush mower I used just
cut
the grass and bushes, but the clippings just drop and are not really
disintegrated. So there is this covering now of the area of the
clippings.



--


Tim Fierro *
Licensed Real Estate Agent & Private Investor
Retail, Wholesale, or Fast Cash; There is always a solution!
Main: 360-537-0120 * Fax: 360-537-0121
Pierce County: 253-227-9877 * King County: 206-353-7044

Since you have around ½ acre or more to mow etc then definately get a
riding mower. They make all manner of attachemnts that you might find
useful too for leveling, mulching, chipping etc. Growing up near
Seattle, we had almost an acre and the majority was grass and/or weeds.
It took me 3½ hours and 1½ tanks of gas on our mower every week to cut
it. Get the riding mower................

Blackberries, oh how I wish I had a big patch here in NMsigh, yum!

Grandpa

Tim Fierro wrote:
snipped

Thank you for the reply and the advice. Still considering a riding mower
though as there is another 1/4 acre out front that does have grass. Dirt
and seed, as well as massaging the ground to be a little bit level is easy;
so will end up doing that.

Why not rake up the grass etc that you have cut, pile it on the blackberry
and burn it.
Then fill in the ruts and pot holes with soil, and get a wild flower mixture
of seed and sow this over the area.
Turn this patch into a wild flower meadow, then just cut it once a year
after your flowers have set and dropped their seed.
This area will attract insects, butterflies and birds and will be a lot more
interesting than a patch of short grass, and a lot less work.

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

"David Hill"
Why not rake up the grass etc that you have cut, pile it
on the blackberry and burn it.

For one, I can only have a fire 3' wide and the flame can't get bigger than
2'. This according to the local fire department, so I haven't really looked
at burning since my last outing with this issue. We plan to go to the store
on Saturday and look for that 2,4,D to kill the blackberries.


Then fill in the ruts and pot holes with soil, and get a wild
flower mixture of seed and sow this over the area.
Turn this patch into a wild flower meadow, then just
cut it once a year after your flowers have set and
dropped their seed. This area will attract insects, butterflies
and birds and will be a lot more interesting than a patch of
short grass, and a lot less work.

David, that is an interesting idea. As I mentioned in previous post, we
have not made plans for that area of land yet. If we build on it later, I
would hate to have had to spend a lot on grass planting and getting it all
manicured; then tear it up to put a shop/garage there. :-) On the other
hand, if I did not want to build in that area, the work put into getting a
nice grassy back would be well worth it. Catch-22 until we decide what to
do there.

But the original concept remains, ease of maintenance being a priority. I
will take your advice and look into this more as an option. I did not know
that one could plant a flower/seed that would only need a cut once a year.

I appreciate everyone's contribution to this thread in helping us determine
how best to deal with the situation.



--


Tim Fierro *
Licensed Real Estate Agent & Private Investor
Retail, Wholesale, or Fast Cash; There is always a solution!
Main: 360-537-0120 * Fax: 360-537-0121
Pierce County: 253-227-9877 * King County: 206-353-7044

When you fill the ruts and hollows with soil would be a good time to add
wild flower seed.
I think you'll find this link of interest.
http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factshe...ow/convert.php

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
Turn this patch into a wild flower meadow, then just cut it once a year
after your flowers have set and dropped their seed.

Have you actually done this? I haven't seen anyone successfully turn an
area into a wild flower meadow. It seems that in a year or two you have a
weed infested area that is dominated by one or two species. The man-made
meadows that I have seen in botanical gardens seem to require a periodic
burn - something that most people can't or won't do. Without the burn, the
meadow is just a stop on the way to reforestation. Weed trees, brush,
pokeweed, etc. all take their turn in the succession back to forest.

Vox Humana wrote:

"David Hill" wrote in message
...

Turn this patch into a wild flower meadow, then just cut it once a year
after your flowers have set and dropped their seed.


Have you actually done this? I haven't seen anyone successfully turn an
area into a wild flower meadow. It seems that in a year or two you have a
weed infested area that is dominated by one or two species. The man-made
meadows that I have seen in botanical gardens seem to require a periodic
burn - something that most people can't or won't do. Without the burn, the
meadow is just a stop on the way to reforestation. Weed trees, brush,
pokeweed, etc. all take their turn in the succession back to forest.



My employer, [deep pockets] put in a meadow, and it looked nice as long
as they burned it every 3 years. Now it looks like sh!t. It woulda
been better if they just left it mowed fescue and bluegrass and weeds.

Bob

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
...
Vox Humana wrote:

"David Hill" wrote in message
...

Turn this patch into a wild flower meadow, then just cut it once a year
after your flowers have set and dropped their seed.


Have you actually done this? I haven't seen anyone successfully turn an
area into a wild flower meadow. It seems that in a year or two you have
a
weed infested area that is dominated by one or two species. The
man-made
meadows that I have seen in botanical gardens seem to require a periodic
burn - something that most people can't or won't do. Without the burn,
the
meadow is just a stop on the way to reforestation. Weed trees, brush,
pokeweed, etc. all take their turn in the succession back to forest.



My employer, [deep pockets] put in a meadow, and it looked nice as long
as they burned it every 3 years. Now it looks like sh!t. It woulda
been better if they just left it mowed fescue and bluegrass and weeds.


That's exactly my point. The OP who now has weeds, berries, brush, etc, will
most likely have the same thing in a few years if he goes the wildflower
route. The same thing will happen with a well planned perennial bed. You
start with a nice mix of plants. If you don't manage the bed, you end up
with the entire thing choked with one or two aggressive plants. Then nasty
weeds like thistles will get established, and in my area, maple and locust
saplings will appear.

On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 14:29:49 +0000, Vox Humana wrote:


My employer, [deep pockets] put in a meadow, and it looked nice as long
as they burned it every 3 years. Now it looks like sh!t. It woulda
been better if they just left it mowed fescue and bluegrass and weeds.


That's exactly my point. The OP who now has weeds, berries, brush, etc, will
most likely have the same thing in a few years if he goes the wildflower
route. The same thing will happen with a well planned perennial bed. You
start with a nice mix of plants. If you don't manage the bed, you end up
with the entire thing choked with one or two aggressive plants. Then nasty
weeds like thistles will get established, and in my area, maple and locust
saplings will appear.


Absolutely true. If I don't stay on top of my flower beds forget about it.
Weeds,maple saplings go WILD.

I agree, The wildflower route is not the way to go.

TOm

On 06/05/2004 11:38 AM, Tom Randy said:
On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 14:29:49 +0000, Vox Humana wrote:



My employer, [deep pockets] put in a meadow, and it looked nice as long
as they burned it every 3 years. Now it looks like sh!t. It woulda
been better if they just left it mowed fescue and bluegrass and weeds.


That's exactly my point. The OP who now has weeds, berries, brush, etc, will
most likely have the same thing in a few years if he goes the wildflower
route. The same thing will happen with a well planned perennial bed. You
start with a nice mix of plants. If you don't manage the bed, you end up
with the entire thing choked with one or two aggressive plants. Then nasty
weeds like thistles will get established, and in my area, maple and locust
saplings will appear.



Absolutely true. If I don't stay on top of my flower beds forget about it.
Weeds,maple saplings go WILD.

I agree, The wildflower route is not the way to go.


I'm currently trying the meadow thing. I mow regularly just around
the house. The rest I let grow, and cut it once every fall. I've
put in some native perennial wildflowers just to see how they do.
But I haven't spent a lot on that - for the most part, I just left
what was already here go wild, and I'm always pleasantly surprised
by that new wildflowers turn up on their own. The once per year
fall cutting is a pain, but it seems to be enough to keep the
brambles, brush and trees from moving back in. And it does save me
from a lot of mowing in the summer. I'm not expecting it to ever
turn into a picture perfect wildflower meadow, but it's not a weedy
mess either, so I would recommend this route, as long as you have
realistic expectations about it.


--
Joe
http://www.joekaz.net/
http://www.cafeshops.com/joekaz