Have a few different 0.5-1acre sections on the wooder 80-acre lease that is full with Johnson grass and I want to try and plant something this fall. I don't have access to a tractor or anything so my options are to mow each half acre section with a push mower, or take my backpack sprayer out there asap or both?

Tried reading some old threads but didn't really find too much.

Do you guys think I should mow them areas down or just spray now and rake in a few weeks and then seed? OR am I just wasting my time.

Thanks

Johnson grass will come back from the root. Spray it.

If it were me, I’d wait until you’re ready to plant, broadcast seed and then weedeat. At least give the seed a thatch layer on top to hold moisture. Push mowing a 1 acre field of Johnson grass in August is a horrible idea, especially if you care about your lawn mower. I wouldn’t spray unless you had a way to work the seed into the ground. The Johnson grass will be back next year no matter which option you choose, might as well get some benefit out of it.

If you can get your truck back to the spots that you want to do, then spray and let sit for two weeks, then pull a
4x4 Foot Steel Durable Chain Rake Field Leveling ATV Drag Harrow, to break up the ground and remove the
Johnson grass. Then throw out your seed right before a rain if possible.
68A is correct about one thing. No mater what you do, the Johnson grass will be back just as thick next year.

If can't get truck back there to spray and then drag 2 weeks later...I've use a tiller (or rent one), then seed and lightly cover (drag something, tire, 4x4, pallet, section of chain link fence etc)
If multiple .5-1 ac places and could get a small tractor to it, it would be IMO well worth cost to rent small tractor and disc for a day and save you lots of time

Spray. Do 4oz. Of roundup per gallon that will knock it down.

Yep, we have same problem here, my renter brougth out a bale of hay last summer and the cows have spread
that mess all over the place here. No cattle on property now, but i can see areas where J grass has sprouted! (Ive
been spot spraying with generic roundup T supply sells, been working pretty good so far, but soon as it seeds it s all over
again! The recommended rate of 1 1/2oz per gallon is too weak, we use 4 to 5 oz per gall, for fence lines, and spot treatment
in middle of pasture! its working, but slow, im seeing results. Also have some Locusts trees with the long needle spines,
its killing those bushes too!