My parents have a beautiful 7-acre property in rural Kentucky that they want to rewild next year, but they're frustrated by the invasive grass that requires constant maintenance. My dad gets really intense about mowing, which adds unnecessary stress in the summer. I'm looking for efficient methods to get rid of this non-native grass without using herbicides since my mom keeps bees. Plastic sheets might be too slow, and using cardboard and mulch on a large scale seems impractical. Can we just add native wildflower seeds, or would the grass outcompete them? Are there any viable alternatives for effectively handling this situation?
1 Answer
Honestly, I wouldn't try to tackle all 7 acres at once. The invasive grass is already dominating, so adding wildflower seeds likely won't give the desired results. I'd suggest joining a local conservation group or starting small, maybe just working on a quarter-acre near the house. If you have specific areas to focus on, like a flooding spot, start there and expand as you get the hang of things. Rewilding is a marathon, not a sprint!