Does it Grow in Healthy Grass?
YES.
This weed is very persistent and CAN and WILL grow ANYWHERE that is sub-tropical in climate. Keeping your pasture treated with an herbicide THAT IS CAPABLE of killing legumes like CI is important and re-seeding to keep healthy, dense grass year round is best practice for many reasons- OF COURSE! Doing this CAN slow creeping indigo down in it's efforts to crawl and take over as the dense grass creates an obstacle for the vines. But, they will crawl over AND under the grass- it just takes a little more effort and time.
(to see what herbicides UF suggests as most efficient for killing CI- see the HOW DO I KILL CI section of our website!)
Good pasture management will also keep new infestations of CI more manageable in size if you keep up with pasture checks every quarter. UF also suggest the ratio of 1acre of grazing for every 600-700lbs of horse on your land. If you cannot meet this ratio- it's encouraged that you rotate your pastures/stall time to allow the pasture to rest. Keeping your grass between 3-6" in length is imprtant. Remove your animals when the grass reaches 3" to allow the grass to recover and remain dense. When grass growth slows in the Winter- supplementing hay helps with the risk of overgrazing.
You can also manage your soil's PH to keep it below 4.5 or above 6.5 so it cannot THRIVE and spread as quickly. This along with yearly treatment for legume killing herbicides should keep this weed from over taking your land.
This weed is very persistent and CAN and WILL grow ANYWHERE that is sub-tropical in climate. Keeping your pasture treated with an herbicide THAT IS CAPABLE of killing legumes like CI is important and re-seeding to keep healthy, dense grass year round is best practice for many reasons- OF COURSE! Doing this CAN slow creeping indigo down in it's efforts to crawl and take over as the dense grass creates an obstacle for the vines. But, they will crawl over AND under the grass- it just takes a little more effort and time.
(to see what herbicides UF suggests as most efficient for killing CI- see the HOW DO I KILL CI section of our website!)
Good pasture management will also keep new infestations of CI more manageable in size if you keep up with pasture checks every quarter. UF also suggest the ratio of 1acre of grazing for every 600-700lbs of horse on your land. If you cannot meet this ratio- it's encouraged that you rotate your pastures/stall time to allow the pasture to rest. Keeping your grass between 3-6" in length is imprtant. Remove your animals when the grass reaches 3" to allow the grass to recover and remain dense. When grass growth slows in the Winter- supplementing hay helps with the risk of overgrazing.
You can also manage your soil's PH to keep it below 4.5 or above 6.5 so it cannot THRIVE and spread as quickly. This along with yearly treatment for legume killing herbicides should keep this weed from over taking your land.
