DaNag
Silver Member
I love the Internet. Relative anonymity allows me to share my complete ignorance without reprisal...
I've about 3 acres in the PNW I need to get seed down on in the next few weeks. The property was cleared of alders about 6 months back, graded about 2 months ago, and I just hit the small but numerous resulting weeds that popped up with glyphosate last weekend.
I've had my County ag folks out, and they've advised what pasture seed mixes will work well for me. They've also provided great info on how to prep/plant the area, so I'm fairly comfortable with that process. What I don't know - what exactly, I can expect aesthetically with "pasture grass."
Aesthetics matter somewhat, as I'll not have any livestock in the area for a couple years - if ever. That decision is a ways off, and if it happens there might be a couple horses and/or a few sheep. But, maybe not - I could toss fruit trees, berry bushes or some other form of landscaping out there should we decide against animals. So, given our indecisiveness - the immediate concern is getting something green down now that will look decent when mowed, that will also choke out the undesirable weeds that will continue to come in if I do nothing. Doesn't need to be manicured/golf course quality - just something I can hit with the flail mower and enjoy as a yard for the next couple of years until we know exactly what we'll do with the space.
The blend in question is 50% Orchard Grass, 25% Tall Fescue, 15% Perennial Rye, 10% Annual Rye. Known to do well in my region, and far cheaper than lawn seed - less than $1/pound when bought in bulk. But...what to expect when not using this for grazing? Will it survive OK if I mow it routinely - preferably, never letting it get more than 4-5" tall? And - assuming it comes in as expected and fertilized as appropriate, what will it look like? Suitable for a little croquet and frisbee, or just a lumpy/clumpy green area where the dogs can run?
Thanks for not laughing too hard,
A former City Boy
I've about 3 acres in the PNW I need to get seed down on in the next few weeks. The property was cleared of alders about 6 months back, graded about 2 months ago, and I just hit the small but numerous resulting weeds that popped up with glyphosate last weekend.
I've had my County ag folks out, and they've advised what pasture seed mixes will work well for me. They've also provided great info on how to prep/plant the area, so I'm fairly comfortable with that process. What I don't know - what exactly, I can expect aesthetically with "pasture grass."
Aesthetics matter somewhat, as I'll not have any livestock in the area for a couple years - if ever. That decision is a ways off, and if it happens there might be a couple horses and/or a few sheep. But, maybe not - I could toss fruit trees, berry bushes or some other form of landscaping out there should we decide against animals. So, given our indecisiveness - the immediate concern is getting something green down now that will look decent when mowed, that will also choke out the undesirable weeds that will continue to come in if I do nothing. Doesn't need to be manicured/golf course quality - just something I can hit with the flail mower and enjoy as a yard for the next couple of years until we know exactly what we'll do with the space.
The blend in question is 50% Orchard Grass, 25% Tall Fescue, 15% Perennial Rye, 10% Annual Rye. Known to do well in my region, and far cheaper than lawn seed - less than $1/pound when bought in bulk. But...what to expect when not using this for grazing? Will it survive OK if I mow it routinely - preferably, never letting it get more than 4-5" tall? And - assuming it comes in as expected and fertilized as appropriate, what will it look like? Suitable for a little croquet and frisbee, or just a lumpy/clumpy green area where the dogs can run?
Thanks for not laughing too hard,
A former City Boy
