Posted 2008-02-22 8:16 AM (#77595) Subject: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
Can you use regular lawn grass to over seed on the pasture?I have used the pasture mix in the past ,but it is expensive.I know you shouldn't use fescue if you have pregnant mares ,but I do not have pregnant mares nor do I plan too.
Posted 2008-02-22 8:56 AM (#77600 - in reply to #77595) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Here in Kansas, fescue IS what most lawns are, so I don't see any reason you couldn't apply that same logic to other lawn grasses. As long as it is something that grows well in your area of the country and is not toxic to horses, you should be fine.
Posted 2008-02-22 9:41 AM (#77609 - in reply to #77595) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Keymar,Maryland
Originally written by horsecrazi on 2008-02-22 9:16 AM
Can you use regular lawn grass to over seed on the pasture?I have used the pasture mix in the past ,but it is expensive.I know you shouldn't use fescue if you have pregnant mares ,but I do not have pregnant mares nor do I plan too.
Absolutely not. Lawn grasses are engineered to grow only to short lengths and are notoriously high in sugars ( which contributes to their tolerence and longevity). Please use only grazing grasses and stay away from those designed for beef cattle and dairy cow production as they are high sugar producers as well. I would suggest contacting your local ag. extension office for a start. A good pasture management program is your best bet to maintaining your pastures with minimal reseeding and herbicide use. Also you may want to visit http://www.safergrass.org/
Richard
Just noticed you were local to me, feel free to PM me and I can help you out with selections for our region.
Posted 2008-02-22 10:41 AM (#77621 - in reply to #77609) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
I only have 3 acers ,and have a sacrifice lot to keep them off pasture part of the time ,and rotate them between fields for good pasture management.I also keep things mowed for weeed control.However with the drought things really dryed up and they ate everything out there last summer.I have been using Southern states horse pasture mix in the past with good results,but is somewhat expensive ,and only comes in a 25lb bag.My husband(who doesn't know much about horses)was wondering if we could get the kentucky mix since you can get it in a 50lb bag for fairly cheap.What do you recomend?
Posted 2008-02-22 7:06 PM (#77648 - in reply to #77621) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Keymar,Maryland
Originally written by horsecrazi on 2008-02-22 11:41 AM
I only have 3 acers ,and have a sacrifice lot to keep them off pasture part of the time ,and rotate them between fields for good pasture management.I also keep things mowed for weeed control.However with the drought things really dryed up and they ate everything out there last summer.I have been using Southern states horse pasture mix in the past with good results,but is somewhat expensive ,and only comes in a 25lb bag.My husband(who doesn't know much about horses)was wondering if we could get the kentucky mix since you can get it in a 50lb bag for fairly cheap.What do you recomend?
Sounds like you have a good program. It is imperative to remove the horses and preserve about 3" of growth or the crown of the plant. I know hay is expensive but it's that or constantly shelling out for seed. I do not like the Southern States blend. It is high in Kentucky bluegrass which is just not heat and drought tolerant for this area ( goes dormant far too soon unless in a low / damp / partially shaded pasture). It also contains timothy which is short lived under grazing pressure. I get my seed blended by Rohrer's seed in Smoketown PA. ( just above Lancaster). Endophyte free fescue, orchardgrass of a grazing variety, bromegrass and Linn perennial ryegrass ( an older variety, not quite as hardy but lower in sugar than some newer varieties). For clover use only white clover, standard or jumbo OK. Do not use red or alsike clover. Don't bother with clover if you will be applying weed killer, it will be wiped out. Hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions. Richard
Posted 2008-02-23 6:43 AM (#77691 - in reply to #77595) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
Thanks for the help.As I said I do keep them off the feild part of the time.(during the day in summer months)and they go out in the night on the feild.
Posted 2008-03-06 5:35 PM (#78832 - in reply to #77595) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Regular
Posts: 85
I just did some frost overseeding last weekend, the next day it rained and 2 days later snowed, then melted the next day. I used a Forage First product called Jump Start. It is expensive, comes in 25 lb bags and I used 2 to overseed my pasture which is a about 2 1/2 acres. Last summer with the drought, the horses ate it to the nubbins and I got some bare spots, so I am hoping this will reguvinate my pasture. This product is endophyte free, contains 4 kinds of ryegrass amd festulolium. It is supposed to provide early spring and fall fogge while maintaining solid summer performance and be highly palatable! We shall see, I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping I did not throw money away!
Posted 2008-03-06 5:52 PM (#78837 - in reply to #78832) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Keymar,Maryland
You need to be careful. That pasture will be loaded with sugar. Please introduce very slowly checking frequently for heat and pulse in the hooves. Either in a cold horse is cause for alarm. Please visit www.safergrass.org
Create a small paddock that you are willing to write-off and keep the horses there if you need to do a complete reseed...
Most people in VT have what we call a mud season paddock...that turns to mud...while the regular paddocks are rested until the ground dries up a bit...
Posted 2008-03-07 3:01 PM (#78943 - in reply to #77595) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Dosen't have time to mature before the summer heat kills it.of course with the droughts we have had it gets killed anyway.I had $1000 bucks of Ky31 no tilled in fall of 07.After Feburday it hardly rained again until this past October.I saw the grass up and then weeks of no water.
Posted 2008-03-07 5:15 PM (#78956 - in reply to #77595) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
I think you can (in MD) over seed in the early spring .The seed will lie dormant until it warms up in late spring then sprout.Thats what I have heard anyway?
Posted 2008-03-07 6:42 PM (#78963 - in reply to #77595) Subject: RE: Seeding pasture
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Keymar,Maryland
Here in central MD you can overseed late winter / early spring ( except it's too wet at the moment). However, you should refrain from serious grazing and let the roots develop. Typically with most varieties it's root depth is about half the stem height, hence why overgrazing is hard on pastures the roots shrink, it gets a little dry, say goodbye. Our fall season is pretty long anymore and an excellent time to overseed.
Seeding pasture
