Planting Grass

[rf33]

Carl,

The final use of this grass is for pasture for my horses. This stuff would be pretty expensive to use as a ground cover[img]/w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif[/img]. I also agree with you that crop rotation is a great idea to help build the soil back up.

You are also correct about the discing only getting the top layer of soil, but for planting grasses, it is just about all anyone around here ever does. Perhaps just laziness, or maybe the soil here is pretty well areated to begin with I do not know.

About the soil testing, you are quite right again. Also might mention that to get good results, you should sample many different areas of the property to be planted, as soil conditions might vary widely even within a small plot.

Thanks for all the tips...

[patrickg]

rf33

Ron, I am (and everyone else should be if they aren't) jealous of your LOVLEY LOOKING acres. Looks like a small part of mine, except for color of dirt and yours looks better.

Thanks so very much for sharing the pictures and information. Please post follow ups.

I have an appointment pending for a team of guys from different agencies, OSU county extension agent, etc. going to descend on me later this week or next to help formulate master plans for land improvement, haying, cattle, errosion control, and so forth. One agency wil shoot some grades (survey type thing) and recommend any changes to flood control like additional ponds or whatever. I have 8 ponds on 160 acres now, plenty for fishing and watering stock but oh well, we'll see what the experts say. Got to make some decisions regarding blue stem, bermuda, native, or what kind of grasses to put where. As we are on the serious down side of the cyclical cattle market for the next few years, I need to use this time for gearing up for hay production and land improvement to get ready for the up swing and be prepared to run an increased number of cattle units.

Looking forward to the after (progress) pix. The before and during ones were real neat.

Thanks again for sharing,

Patrick

[rf33]

Patrick,

Thanks for the kind words. The property is coming along nicely, and the builders are supposed to pour the foundation on our house today.[img]/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif[/img] 160 acres with 8 ponds sounds wonderful, if not alot of work. I will do my best to keep the pics coming, hard to find time for everything...[img]/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif[/img] Your county extension agent, if they are anything like mine, can be a gold mine of information on what works and what doesn't in your area. Many experts on this board, but having the knowledge of your local conditions can often be invaluable. The best advice I can give is to try to get your land in the best shape you can before you plant your first real grass (cover crops don't count), as it sure is hard to go back and work your ground after your grass is up. Best wishes.