By Don Ryan, Resource Specialist
Don Ryan is a Resource Specialist with the ISDA Division of
Soil Conservation in Southwest Indiana, stationed in Daviess County. Don was raised on a small diverse livestock
and crop farm. He started his
conservation career in Daviess County as a district technician and has been
with the State for 26 years.
Several years ago, I was asked to look at a ditch with a
producer. This ditch was behind her
house and just outside her horse pasture.
When I arrived, it was completely bare.
It had no vegetation, and the erosion was bad. She had sprayed it earlier because she
didn't like the tall grass and weeds growing out her back door. She stated that it had really gotten out of hand,
so she unknowingly traded in weeds and grass for a nasty looking brown and exposed
soil ditch by eliminating the vegetation.
Now, several years later, that ditch is mostly weeds and looks worse now
than it did before it was sprayed. Fortunately,
some grass is coming back.
There is a time and a place for everything. There are times when noxious weeds need to be
removed and the most effective way to take care of them is spraying. If broad leaf weeds are the major concern,
maybe a chemical specifically for those weeds could be used. Another option for weed control in ditches could
be a systematic approach of spraying and reseeding, that might take a couple of
years, so as to not have complete exposure at once.
An effective way to maintain a ditch is mowing and the good
ol' weed eater on those steep banks.
This is not always the most fun way to take care of things, but it is
very effective. Just keep in mind that you
don’t want to cut the grass too short.
The best way to protect that ditch from erosion is a good stand of grass
with strong roots.
One last thing to keep in mind! You are using a chemical in an open and
flowing water course. Please follow
label directions for best results and safety.
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