A Pasture Question

ForceTen · May 11, 2002

We have a small (2.5 Acre) pasture that was overgrown with weeds for a long time. With selective replanting and frequent mowing, it is now starting to come back. I have two questions. The fescue is now just above my knees and has seed stalk on the top. Is it worth letting the seed continue to grow, and then cut (for the home-grown overseeding), or not. When do I cut it for the best possibility of seed germination?

TresCrows · May 12, 2002

I have always been told for "lawns" to mow before seed heads develop if you wish to maintain a particular variety. Once the flowers develop and cross polinate with other grasses then the resulting seeds will be different from the original grass variety you planted. Also frequent mowing of perinial grasses discourages annual weeds and stuff like that and encourages lateral growth.
Now the thing is I got the same question with Broam grass--when do you mow the stuff if the purpose of your mowing is to cause it to spread, thicken and increase health and vigor and reduce weeds? J

Argee · May 12, 2002

You didn't say what type of fescue you are growing. Following is a snippet regarding foxtail fescue from the <font color=blue>UC SAREP Cover Crop Database.</font color=blue> My guess is it would apply to any grass that forms a seed head.

"Timing of mowing is critical in maintaining stands of foxtail fescue. It can be mowed frequently until seed development has been initiated, but it should not be cut thereafter until full maturation has occurred. Otherwise, plants will be killed without seed having been produced to ensure stand regeneration"

For more information:
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/CCrop.exe>http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/CCrop.exe</A>

Phred · May 12, 2002

ForceTen,

Here is a link that may help.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/pnw/pnw504/pnw504.html>http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/pnw/pnw504/pnw504.html</A>
I have been debating the same question for a larger bit of ground (~50 acers). Conclusion I came to is let it go to seed to obtain some self seeding. I have the same question about the optimum timming....? I will probably experiment a bit.
If I let it go to long the weeds will come back.

I had a place that was planted in bermuda and the vacant lot next door was fescue. They never cut the fescue and as a result, I had an ongoing battle to kill off the new fescue growth in my bermuda each year. The best method I found was to cut it often and very short. Fescue does not like to be cut very short but bermuda does not mind.

Phred · May 12, 2002

Argee,

I jumped to the conclusion that he was talking about tall fescue, maybe I am wrong. But tall fescue is the most popular.

The link you are refering to is talking about anual fescue. You need to be carefull with the anual or it won't come back.

Phred

ForceTen · May 13, 2002

Well, I didn't say what type of fescue because it's the green kind!

Wish I knew. Any sites with pictures so that I can make an attempt at ID'ing? I know that some is lawn grass (Kentucky Bluegrass) that we planted over the septic feild. The rest predates me.

Thanks for the input,

Steve

Phred · May 14, 2002

Forceten,

Mine is tall fescue because I have not gotten around to cutting it /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Take a look at these llinks:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/tall_fescue.html
http://www.itms-turf.com/TurfProfile.htm

Fred