Best way to seed acres?

[Bartcephus]

Bees,

I believe that is called "hydroseeding" and they can be hired out. Highway construction crews use them to reseed right of ways, etc. Look in the yellow pages, there is probably one near you.

Bart

 

[hrcarver]

The overseeders or hydroseeding is great for small areas, not at all ideal for any acreage though.

 

[EddieWalker]

This topic may have been covered many times but Im having a hard time finding some answers. I want to get some grass started on my property mostly weeds. I am looking at a combo of switch/indian grass much like you see in CRP out here in Eastern Colorado. I know a drill is best option. I was looking for other options. If you use a broadcast seeder what are best options for covering seed up? Open to opinions/ideas.

Thanks B

How big of an area are you wanting to plant?

I personaly like to just walk over the area after I've diskes it and draged it smooth, and toss it out by hand just before it rains. If it rains, like it should, then the rain will set the seat at it's ideal depth. Remember how mother nature does this!!!!

The fancy seeding machines are great, and you will get better results, but in my opinion, they are not worth the money for a small amount of land. Worse case is that you don't get all your seed to come up, and it's patchy. Then you just add more seed where you need it the next time. Even if you buy/rent a seeder, you will still have bare spots.

Eddie

 

[DJ54]

To date, I've used the frost seeding method. It has worked great, and I've had good results. The first year I reseeded my hayfield I went in in late Oct. and disked it twice, corner to corner. Then in late Feb., or early March, when the ground was honeycombed, I broadcast seeded it, with one of those drawbar mounted seeders that hold 20 lbs. or so of seed.. Turned out great, but not a good cutting until the second cutting. And, you have to wait for a day when it is not windy.

With the slit seeder, I'm hoping to get it started in mid Sept., and get ahead of the game so to speak... Guess we'll see.

 

[Bartcephus]

The overseeders or hydroseeding is great for small areas, not at all ideal for any acreage though.

hrcarver,

I know this is not what you meant. I have seen a lot of acres hydroseeded. Miles and miles of hydroseeded roadsides. It may not be practical for every acreage, but hydroseeding for LARGE areas can be done apparently very effeciently, (long thin strips?)

Bart

 

[Jbbies]

I have 5 acres to do

 

[flusher]

I have 5 acres to do

What's your seeder equipment budget?
I figured it's low, so in my previous post I suggested an inexpensive (i.e. cheap) way to go. Walking 5 acres with a bag seeder takes a few hours of your time, but you get a good workout and can listen to the sounds of the birds and animals while you plant seed the way your great grandparents did. What could be more satisfying?

 

[CharlieS]

The one thing NOT to do is work your soil so fine it will blow in the winter winds, which eastern Co. gets plenty of. (born and raised in the Yuma/Joes area).
If you lack access to a drill, you can always work the ground as you would for a winter wheat crop, broadcast seed with a 3 pt mounted seeder, then drag with a heavy bridge timber.
Not ideal as germination rate won't be as high as if drilled, but with a hopefully good snow cover after germination ground cover should be decent next spring. Now's the time, as its time to get winter wheat in out there also.

 

[Dave5264]

Im going to Overseed about 10 acres inthe next week or so.

my plan:

Cut the fields short - Done

Work the ground with a set of disks - wont get too much into the sub soil but better than having nothing

Use my 3pt spreader to drop the seed

Let the snow cover and frost do the rest.

 

[cowski]

spread the seed with the spreader then lightly disc it in.you may need to disc or bush hog the ground first.i have planted thousands of acres this way.