Grooming my runway

[taylorcraftbc65]

Hey guys, I need some advice. I have a long 40 acres on which there is a 2,200 X 50 foot runway bladed. With all the rains that we have been getting in Hudspeth County the last three months, some of the greesewood bushes that were clipped off at ground level have started to grow back. I want to KILL them (preferably), or at least keep cutting them back to the ground as they come up. After the rains, the ground packed down really well, to the point where I could drive my F-350 dualie on the runway and not dent the geound more than a sixteenth of an inch. I like the hard surface for many reasons, and would like to keep it. But I have to get rid of these bushes before they get worse. One friend of mine says get the guy with the grader to cut the runway again, and another says drag a piece of chin link fence behind the truck.
I think that the first idea is VERY expencive, and will tear the surface up again. The second one is affordable, but will also disturb the surface. I was going to get a riding lawn mower, and set the blades REAL low and just cut them off. Untill friend number two (the guy I bought the T-craft from) asked if I had ever had a tire punctured by a Greesewood spear just as the tailwheel lifted off. The last runway I had was just north of Lakeland, Florida , in Green Swamp. The only thing that grew there was range grass and fire ants. I could use some advice from you people, especially those who life in conditions like mine. (About 45 miles South West of Guadelope Peak). Below is a photo of the eastern half of the runway about two weeks before the rains really hit.

[crispy critter]

Try spraying some "Round Up" weed killer on them.It will kill everything else that grows.I use it to keep the grass and weeds down around the hangers and before we had the runway resurfaced I used it to keep the weeds from growing threw the cracks in the runway.It works great and usually last for a couple months before anything starts to grow back.

[CraigH]

Sabrina,
Unfortunately I'm based at an asphalt strip, but Kevin's idea of using Round Up would be my first approach. The stuff is pretty good at killing anything green and usually works fast in a hot dry climate.

Your County Agriculture Extension Agent might also have some good suggestions.

Wish I had your problem

[taylorcraftbc65]

Greesewood solution

Thanks guys, looks like I'm going to go out and get a whoooole bunch of Roundup to spray on anything green in the runway.
To all of you on the Gulf coast may the good LORD keep you and your planes safe, PLEASE let everyone on the board know you are O.K. after the storm clears, and you get your power/phones back. Sabrina

[ROllerton]

you can buy stuff in Texas for pasture maint. that you cant buy other places. Not approved in other states.

Look for Remedy and Reclaim. Not cheap, but a little goes a long way. Mix with a little dish soap and diesel and put in a $10 pump up sprayer.

When its dead, you need to chop back the root to eliminate the tire pokers. Same for Mesqute.

bob.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Runway foliage

Thanks Bob, This is what I'm talking about. The first shot is before the rains rejuvinated the greasewoods, and the second shot is what it looks like now. Sabrina

[taylorcraftbc65]

second photo

Here is the same shot after the weeds rejuvinated

[ROllerton]

If I were to buy some, I would have bought it at Tractor Supply.

of course its not listed for use in Arizona, where we have pesky mesqute trees growing like weeds. Of course.,

I like the look of that runway, it just begs taildraggers to come in and make a soft landing...

[taylorcraftbc65]

All are welcome

Well Bob, I'll let everyone on the site know when the runway is ready to accept aircraft again. When it is, COOOMMME ON DOOOWWNN!! When that happens, peheraps we'll have a hanger warming party, 1940s Big Band music, BBQ, and maybe A 1940s costume contest. What do you folks think?? Sabrina

[paulp]

party

Sabrina,

Sounds like a great idea!!! By the way, on my farm, I use 2-4D and Oxbow(much like Round-up) It works great on woody vine weed @ an application rate of 5 oz of Oxbow per 15 gal of water per acre. It's expensive, but it works great. BUT, HANDLE WITH EXTREME CARE!!!!!!!

[taylorcraftbc65]

Hanger warming party

I'm going to see what I can get at the local farm supply store, Don't worry, I'll look like I'm wearing a hazmat 5 suit when I'm handeling the stuff, whatever I get.
Whenever I hold the hanger warming party, I'll try to get an authentic looking WASP uniform to wear. My friend Tee will go as a "Doughnut Dolly", And my friend Jim will put together a WW-II Marine Pilots uniform. ( He was in the Marines on carriers as an A&P on A-6 Intruders during the Vietnam War). Sabrina

[mhorowit]

Do you find rocks contribute to any damage?- Mike

[taylorcraftbc65]

Rock damage

Not yet. It seems that the ones that can be picked up by the prop are just sand, and after it was gradded, watered, and rolled, any rocks beneath the surface havn't surfaced yet. Periodic runway patrols to "dress" the runway should take care of that. Sabrina

[stormman]

How about a looong drag about 8 feet wide and 12 feet long made up of what ever you can find for free . A used grader blade comes to mind but i beam of channel will work. Rairoad rail? Make a V bridel out on chain or cable , Free stuff of course. and just pull it behind you truck. You need it long to clip the high spots and fill the low spots. Also set the cutting blade back a bit from the front, maybe a foot or two and turn up the front side runers like skis . Also just put the cutting blade even with the side runners as you just want to skim the surface. What your doing is just making a large box to dragged the surfase with. A few passes and it clips weeds and levels at the same time. Always worked good for me and it does not have to be weighted. just don't leave it on the runway!

[taylorcraftbc65]

Runway Float

That's a pretty good idea, and then follow it with a good dose of herbicide. By the way, where you been boy? We were wondering if you went to the "great fly-in in the sky". Sabrina