Grass Planted - When Will I See It

[TerryinMD]

Mike,

You really wouldn't do to much damage by installing the fence. Well, maybe a little on the edge of pasture. But, I wouldn't let that stop me from getting the fencing done. Heck, you should do that just to keep the horses off of it just in case they decide that the grass is greener there. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

That way you can appease the better half - unless this is a good reason not to have to work on the fence. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif If it is the later, you're on your own. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Terry

 

[rocky2]

This may sound dumb, but it works. Before you put the grass seed down, put it in a jug of water with 4 tablespoons of instant iced tea mix, then refrigerate. after 24-48 hours spread it out on some landscaping cloth to dry, then plant as usual. Putting it in the fridge stops the germination process, what the tea does is...I don't know, but it does speed up the initial germination and it will start to pop out in 2-3 days.

 

[cowboydoc]

Mike,
You need to wait about 3 months to put livestock on there. If you don't, especially with horses, they will just rip the grass, root, and all up. Horses are notorious for doing that. You need to get that root good and est. before grazing. Get some really sharp blades on your mower and then cut it. Keep cutting it like you would your lawn and this will get it growing faster and establish the root system quicker.

 

[frank_f15]

<font color=red> SURE! GO AHEAD AND BLAME US!!! JUST WHAT WE NEED, ANOTHE WOMAN TO BE MAD AT US</font color=red>

 

[MikePA]

Doc, et. al., thanks for the advice re: mowing and horses. I took a good look at it this morning and it doesn't need cutting yet.

Everyone else - I admitted to my wife that your recommendations were to keep the horses off for 3 months but that it was OK to start on the fence. You're all off the hook! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Mike,

Whoa, whoa, whoa.... we're OFF the hook!!!!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Man, ain't that gratitude..... offer suggestions, provide man-to-man advice, tsk, tsk, tsk.... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Get to work on that fence!!!

Terry

 

[MikePA]

Terry, I thought about telling her that the horses had to stay off the grass for 3 months and just let her 'assume' the fence had to wait that long, too. But I couldn't. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Of course, the fact that the wife of the guy we buy hay from was asking her when we're going to start our fence hasn't helped either! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Mike,

Isn't nice how people can help you with their words of encouragement and support! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif You need to have a chat with your hay supplier.... and you thought that this was going to be a holiday weekend. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Terry

 

[MikePA]

Terry, I've already created a materials list, post spacing chart, etc. in Excel so, except for actually buying the material and doing the work, I'm all set!! I'm going to divide the installation into several steps of installing the number of posts I can bring home in the truck since I have no space to store the material. Although, I can probably get a quantity discount on the posts since I will need 194 of them, I don't want to see them turn into a pile of spaghetti by sitting outside.

 

[TerryinMD]

194 posts!!!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

You mean you're not out there running that post hole digger!! Let's do some quick math.... give 20 minutes per post to dig and set... my cyphering is a little slow this morning - good thing I'm not wearing any socks!! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif 3880 minutes = 64+ hours. Just for the posts. Need three months to let the grass mature.... about one month elapsed since planting. Purchase materials, put up the stringers, install the gate,.... yep... come up with the grand total of "there goes your summer". /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I hand dug all of the posts for my 750'+ garden fence - PTD (pre-tractor days).

Four corner posts @ 4ft
6 gate posts @ 4ft
30+ stringer posts @ 2ft

48" red top cattle fence around the perimeter
2 strands of barbed wire at the top
build two walk-through gates
build one 12 ft drive through gate

Took about 6 wks to complete.

Been there - done that - the hard way. Never again!! Tractors rule!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
We are now in the process of restretching, replacing, and adding more barbed wire. It's been a slow process. One that we are tackling when we have a chance. Hope to have it done in the next month. Well - more or less. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

So, I can understand what you need to do. Take your time - a few posts every night and you'll be surprised at how fast it gets done.

Terry

 

[cowboydoc]

193 posts! You need a post pounder! You could put those in in about 5 hours with a pounder.

 

[MikePA]

doc, I know, I know about the post pounder /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif, but when I saw the price compared to a PHD. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif In fact, last night my wife and I were talking about how to get T posts into the ground when they hit a rock (the FEL works fine otherwise for this), I mentioned I could buy a post pounder that also does T posts. When I mentioned the price, she said we'll figure something else out. I know there's nothing else 'cept try another location for the post, but 25 years of marriage has taught me not to point this out. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[MikePA]

Gee, thanks Terry, that's one calculation I had not put in my spreadsheet. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I think I will call some fence places and see what they'd charge to just put the posts in.

 

[MikePA]

Well, it's been just about a month since my last post and I know you've all been patiently waiting, along with me, to see how the pasture has come in /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. Attached is a picture taken tonight right after I finished mowing. There are a few spots without grass, I'd guess about 80% coverage. The picture on the top is what we started with. All in all, I'm very pleased. So, now I get to start putting the fence in. I'll start a new post about that!. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[webbmeister]

Mike:

Looks GREAT!