Re-dragging and planting an already-seeded pasture...

[noobfarmer]

This Spring, I plowed, disked, and planted 6 acres with a dryland pasture mix. However, I must not have broadcast the seed very well because the grass is coming in very thin and patchy. I'm wondering if I can go back through and drag/seed the field again without destroying the existing growth. Even in the bare areas, there is some little growth (a few blades of grass, maybe every 12 inches).

I have a spike-tooth harrow, landscape rake, broadcast spreader, and cultipacker at my disposal. I'm thinking I might lightly drag the bare spots (i.e. to loosen the dirt a little), broadcast some more seed, then drag again and cultipack.

Is this a good idea? Or will I uproot and kill what little growth I have? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[dalroo]

Doesn't sound like it would hurt anything to me. Good luck!

 

[Z-Michigan]

The rake and spike-tooth harrow are too likely to kill new growth. The most aggressive dragging I would try would be with a chain harrow. If it were me, and assuming the soil isn't rock hard, I would just broadcast more seed and run the cultipacker over it. If you had the ability to water it, which I'm guessing you don't for 6 acres in Utah, I would try that too.

 

[Egon]

Don't work it. Just overseed.

 

[noobfarmer]

Thanks to all for the friendly advice. As suggested, I think I'll just overseed and then run the cultipacker over it again. Then pray for rain!

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks to all for the friendly advice. As suggested, I think I'll just overseed and then run the cultipacker over it again. Then pray for rain!

You said you planted this spring? Have you had enough rain to germinate the seeds yet? I would wait another 40 to 50 days and reseed (broadcast). I would recommend raking at that time with a pine straw rake or use the spike tooth harrow, reseed then roll with cultipacker. If you get rains in late August through September that would be a better time to plant imo.

 

[Dadnatron]

I agree with jenkins.

Your sparse germination could simply be due to ground temp and moisture. If you put on 'enough good' seed and didn't have a huge invasion of birds, that seed is sitting there. You might be disappointed in your 'additional' stand as well, if the conditions aren't right for anything to really begin growing yet.

 

[adventure bob]

I did same thing, same result, waited till fall, m9wef short, aerated, overseeded and it's doing great.

 

[boggen]

never used fertilizer, or any thing special. dirt, seed, and were needed straw to deal with erosion till grass grew in. and the dirt was crud dirt tan/brown clay, nothing black about it.

work the couple inches of ground, toss seed out, work the seed in with something. water if i can if not do nothing.

let the grass grow and goto seed, mow, hit the bare spots with a little flower bed tiller if areas are small, toss some seed, reuse tiller to work seed in. and continue on.

if i need to deal with some spots were grass did not take due to erosion. bring some dirt in, seed, some straw, and continue you.

*i have, just plain lazy attitude towards it* 2 to 4 years. have grass that is filled in. first year, / second year i just let the grass go to seed once in spring. then mow till fall. generally mow grass tall. so roots have a chance to grow deeper. vs trying to mow it short.

summer not the best of times. due to droughts and little rain. some years had plenty of rain during summer. and just did it and forgot it.

granted with above, i am not wanting golf course grass. just ugly lawn grass. that gets mowed to keep weeds from growing. and to keep the mice at bay. and reduces any sort of erosion, it is rough and tough. but good enough.