[dataway]

Does anyone know of a good lawn care / small farm forum?

I'm discovering there is a lot I need to learn about chemicals, seeding etc.

Thanks,

[marxgto]

I would recommend Green Tractor Talk. https://www.greentractortalk.com/

Even if you don't own a John Deere tractor. The people there are very knowledgeable and friendly. The forum is not only about tractors. They cover everything related to tractor usage.

Join up and introduce yourself here: https://www.greentractortalk.com/for...roductions.63/

Forum to check out on land questions:
https://www.greentractortalk.com/for...-gardening.59/

[dataway]

Thank You, I'll check it out.

[67drake]

. I don’t know about lawn care, but it is basically a small farm/ homestead forum. Lots of do it yourself people here.

https://www.homesteadingtoday.com/

[spartazoo]

I second Green Tractor Talk. It is a John Deere focused site, but that site has a ton of other really good information. Been a member there for years.

[Shiny]

We bought an "undeveloped" (polite term for overgrown, weed-infested, alkaline mess) 5-acres with a nice house when we retired in 2019. Having only lived as suburbanites, we were clueless but ended up with a very nice place after a lot of work.

The best resource by far was the Colorado State University Agricultural Extension. They had fantastic online info on weed control, pest control, plants, and soil. They had experts available for free consultation on soils, pastures, irrigation, water quality, etc. They even had a local agent that specifically supported small acreage landowners. She made site visits with recommendations on weed control, grass selection, irrigation, maintenance, etc. - all tailored to our own soil, vision, and "wants".

Best return on our tax dollars and kid's tuition we ever experienced. I suspect you may have access to similar resources.

Mike

[dataway]

We have UT Martin only about 30 minutes away, I hear they have a large AG deppartment. I've been meaning to get in touch with them about a tree we have. It's a Sweetgum about 92' tall and 75' spread ... if it's twin trunks could be counted as one it would be the largest Sweetgum tree in the state (yes there is a website for that). Anyway ... it needs a large branch trimmed and I wanted advice on that and the general health of the tree.

So I'm guessing their AG department could help me with the land too, they have a HUGE ag testing facility close by too.

I can access the GT forum for probably some more real world solutions as far as retail products and such I can use.

[jamesq]

Originally Posted by Shiny

We bought an "undeveloped" (polite term for overgrown, weed-infested, alkaline mess) 5-acres with a nice house when we retired in 2019. Having only lived as suburbanites, we were clueless but ended up with a very nice place after a lot of work.

The best resource by far was the Colorado State University Agricultural Extension. They had fantastic online info on weed control, pest control, plants, and soil. They had experts available for free consultation on soils, pastures, irrigation, water quality, etc. They even had a local agent that specifically supported small acreage landowners. She made site visits with recommendations on weed control, grass selection, irrigation, maintenance, etc. - all tailored to our own soil, vision, and "wants".

Best return on our tax dollars and kid's tuition we ever experienced. I suspect you may have access to similar res


Mike

I second this, my wife is Louisiana Master Gardener and the LSU Ag center is her best source for information tailored to our climate and soil.

I am sure TN has an equally useful ag center site!

James Q

[burd]

Grass forum.

https://www.lawnsite.com/

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by dataway

We have UT Martin only about 30 minutes away, I hear they have a large AG deppartment. I've been meaning to get in touch with them about a tree we have. It's a Sweetgum about 92' tall and 75' spread ... if it's twin trunks could be counted as one it would be the largest Sweetgum tree in the state (yes there is a website for that). Anyway ... it needs a large branch trimmed and I wanted advice on that and the general health of the tree.

So I'm guessing their AG department could help me with the land too, they have a HUGE ag testing facility close by too.

I can access the GT forum for probably some more real world solutions as far as retail products and such I can use.

If they are the state Ag school, they should have a county extension office. Don't assume they are there just for commercial farmers. They are not.

Be cautious about "real-world" solutions. Every acre can have different soil, ground water, plant history, weeds, etc. We made a lot of mistakes by listening to advice from locals that meant well, but recommended stuff that didn't work. A great example was the grass seed. Landscapers familiar with the golf course a half mile away told us to seed with a blend that failed miserably. We had a high water table that kept the salt high on our lot and after a lot of research and help from the CSU Extension, we found grass seed that would work. Cost of seed is high enough you don't want to buy it 3 or 4 times like we had to do. Seed companies have a lot of online resources too. Check them out.

Similarly, we had weeds that did not respond to the "typical" chemicals recommended by neighbors, seed store, farm stores, etc. When the CSU small acreage agent came out, she ID'd the weeds, explained why they didn't die, and told us how to manage it. Was not simple!

We also learned about invasive weeds that were so problematic for local farmers and ranchers they were topics of ag seminars and state-sponsored research. All great technical info not easily found outside the academic world.

Originally Posted by jamesq

I second this, my wife is Louisiana Master Gardener and the LSU Ag center is her best source for information tailored to our climate and soil.

I am sure TN has an equally useful ag center site!

James Q

That's awesome your wife invested in that and helps others. We had several Master Gardeners out to help us with plants, pests, and weed control. They were very generous with their time and helped a lot.

Mike

[dataway]

I know I'm going to need about $2k in seed at the least, so no I don't want to make any mistakes there. Everyone in the area grows fescue .. but, this field has been row crops for probably 20 years, not sure what that has done to the soil. The stand of wheat last spring looked great, so thick you could hardly walk through it.

We are also dealing with some erosion problems, the land was leased to a farmer that didn't appear to spend any time maintaining the field, or planting ground cover when not in use. The 7" rain in 24 hours they got a year or so ago didn't help. But, with all the weeds growing it's helped that situation a lot, that's the main reason I didn't poison the whole field which is extremely common around here. They will "Round Up" entire fields, wait a couple of weeks and plant.

I can't complain, I've made more progress here in the last few months than I made in 30 years in the rocky, heavily wooded land I had up north.

[gman005]

This is some good information. I just bought 5 acres in Paris Tn.

[gman005]

Sorry wrong picture.

[Shiny]

Originally Posted by gman005

This is some good information. I just bought 5 acres in Paris Tn.

Congrats! That sounds exciting.

Originally Posted by dataway

I know I'm going to need about $2k in seed at the least, so no I don't want to make any mistakes there. Everyone in the area grows fescue .. but, this field has been row crops for probably 20 years, not sure what that has done to the soil. The stand of wheat last spring looked great, so thick you could hardly walk through it.

We are also dealing with some erosion problems, the land was leased to a farmer that didn't appear to spend any time maintaining the field, or planting ground cover when not in use. The 7" rain in 24 hours they got a year or so ago didn't help. But, with all the weeds growing it's helped that situation a lot, that's the main reason I didn't poison the whole field which is extremely common around here. They will "Round Up" entire fields, wait a couple of weeks and plant.

I can't complain, I've made more progress here in the last few months than I made in 30 years in the rocky, heavily wooded land I had up north.

Yes, you are killing it, at least based on your other thread.

As to the grass seed, I suggest you get your soil tested if you haven't already. We mailed ours off but the local extension office may offer this. If you can tell there are different soil conditions and/or a history of different crops on different parts of your property, sample each.

For example, if you know there was an area stripped of topsoil, the soil test might steer you to plant something for a season or two to rebuild the organics in the soil before you plant the end game.

You are not going to deal with anything like we did, but with a soil test, some guidance from experts, climate knowledge, and your vision for looks and maintenance, you can get "informed" recommendations and have confidence.

Mike

[dataway]

I looked up the county extension office last night, they are about 20 minutes away and have a "Consumer/Homeowner" division that should be helpful. Probably going to email them and see if they can send someone out to look at the situation.

Gman005, we are about 20 minutes away from you to the west. I get most of my equipment from Paris. When I get the shop built and you get settled in you'll have to come over for a visit.

[gman005]

It will be awhile before that happens. There is no house yet. We have a 27x60 pole barn with a 32 foot camper inside. We bought it to build and retire in a few years. We live in the Chicago area now. I try to get down once a month or so.

[dataway]

gman, same sort of deal we were doing. We lucked out and the property had a very rough little house (but strangely has great central AC). We were coming down for a year or so to work on the place from upstate NY (plumbing didn't work, electrical problems) .. then moved in this spring ... not the sort of place to have guests. Shop going up now, hopefully house in about two years.

If you need any local knowledge or emergency help etc. let me know. According to google maps I'm 41 minutes from Paris, a bit quicker in reality .. specially if you live on the west side of Paris. If you want an emergency local contact you can PM for my info.

[gman005]

Thanks. We will be down next weekend for the holiday.

[dataway]

PM'ed my address and info.

If you are out my way feel free to stop in, can't say the wife will allow anyone in the house since we are still only half unpacked .. and well, it's quite the piece of work, entire house is carpeted ... yes, even the kitchen and bathroom, the whole bathroom. All my tools, her car and the GTO jammed in the dirt floor garage which I think the carpenter bees are about to bring to the ground.

But hopefully in about six weeks the shop will be up and have power. Today we pulled up the well pump pipe to make repairs ... was sucking air and the plumbing was making awful sounds .... our plumbing that runs INSIDE the house ... like along the floors and walls .... moved it from under the house where it kept freezing every winter (evidently ... since we didn't own it then).

So ... think the Green Acres house Wife of course is dying to break ground on the new house. Personally I'd live in a carboard box long as I have a nice shop.

Have you checked the temps for next week! Going to be a hot one.