Over grazed pastures--- how best to reseed

[jvolock]

We have 2 pastures that we've over grazed as I didn't have other pastures built and we had contractors on the property building our new indoor riding arena and stalls. I bought seed last year but never put it out as we never got any rain. the building is done and by spring we'll have the inside complete with new stalls, runs and tack room. I want to reseed the 2 pastures and then let them rest all summer. What is the best way to go about doing this?

 

[texasjohn]

I'd go see the soil conservation service in your area. They are very familiar with your area, what grasses work, and how to seed. In this area, there is equipment which can be rented at very reasonable rates to do the job.

 

[foreman Etexas]

If your pastures are nice and smooth,would just no-till drill the seed in and not disk it. Drills around here rent for 300/400 a day for a 10ft..

Guess should include how many acres your talking about. And recommend soil sample...

 

[scollins]

I'd go see the soil conservation service in your area. They are very familiar with your area, what grasses work, and how to seed. In this area, there is equipment which can be rented at very reasonable rates to do the job.

I agree with Texasjohn. Go to the County USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office and to your local County extension agent for recommendations. You would probably have to stop grazing on the area until it can become re-established.

Check out the publications on your state university's extension service web site.

After the area was over-grazed, you wll see a lot of weeds coming in where the native grasses could not compete. You might have to follow up with a backpack sprayer and broadleafed weed killer.

On the pasture out back, I have had solid patches of canada thistle on my fire trails come back to what looks like a nice thick lawn grass just from repeated spraying and mowing. Some areas, like cow trails to bare dirt I am thinking of seeding, based on recommendations from the county extension service grazing specialist.

By the way, make sure you get certified weed-free seed.

Good luck and let us know how it comes out. Congratulations on the new riding arena and stalls.

SC

 

[jvolock]

The two pastures I want to reseed are about 5 acres each. Great ideas and thanks all.

 

[jvolock]

pardon my ignorance but what is a no till drill?

 

[Ranger Rick]

pardon my ignorance but what is a no till drill?

It is a seeder that slices open the ground drops in the seed and then presses the dirt down over the seed without plowing and discing the field. No tilling of the soil.

 

[Dozernut]

I would run a subsoiler through them then an aerator. I have heard of people putting straight knives on their roto-tiller for aerating their pastures. The cows will compact the soil after years of grazing and the grass has a hard time growing. Everything Attachments has a video demonstrating a sobsoiler

Fred Cain Tractor Subsoiler, 3 point hitch

 

[robbyr]

So foreman Etexas the drill is new to me also. I've seen some recently planted pasture that looks like the tractor was pulling something about eight feet wide. My question is why use drill when a spreader can cast a much wider berth?

 

[robbyr]

So foreman Etexas the drill is new to me also. I've seen some recently planted pasture that looks like the tractor was pulling something about eight feet wide. My question is why use drill when a spreader can cast a much wider berth? Of course the only thing I've seeded so far is ryegrass.