Horehound Nightmare

[cschultis]

I have 7 acres on the South Llano River just south of Junction, TX----I have owned it for about 2 years and have just let whatever grasses and weeds that were there grow---not been mowed---previously it had been mowed and grazed to the nub----some good news and some bad news---good news some good grasses have come back---side oats gramma, rescue, silver blue stem, halls panicum ---the bad news is that there are about 2 to 3 acres that are becoming densly covered with horehound(sp?) weeds----and getting worse----my long term vision is to have a healthy grass stand of the 4 tall prairie grasses---big and little bluestem, switchgrass, and indian grass---so my 2 questions are................
1. How do I get rid of the horehound weeds(I have been pulling them out by hand after rains when the ground is wet in areas where they are sparse) but it would take an army a week to handle what is left)
2. How do I keep them out
thanks for your help=----South Llano[/b]

[Nadine]

I regret I did not see this earlier. Next December (between Christmas and New Years Day), spray the entire area with the following mixture: per one gallon of 10% vinegar add two ounces of orange oil and a teaspoon of soap. From what I understand, the dormant grasses will still be fine and the weeds will be eradicated.