Dumb question time - pasture grass

[DaNag]

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

 

[Jstpssng]

If you aren't sure what you want right now, consider planting annual rye, buckwheat, and/or oats. You will build up your soil, (especially if you turn it under) without introducing a perennial grass.

 

[Jstpssng]

P.S.; the only "dumb question" is one which you don't ask.

 

[dragoneggs]

No... we like dumb questions because we all want to know the answer without having to ask and... if we can make a smart remark in the process, all the better! Actually good question in this case. Kinda wondering what to do myself on a smaller scale though.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

If you have mare breeding in your future leave out the Fescue I have learned.

 

[Wagtail]

If you aren't sure what you want right now, consider planting annual rye, buckwheat, and/or oats. You will build up your soil, (especially if you turn it under) without introducing a perennial grass.

Yep, what Jstpassng says. Until you know just what you're going to use the land for, take the 'long view' & build up your soil. Years down the track (as we say here) you'll be glad you did.

Also, think carefully about what critter you may put on in the future... and I'm not just talking about the types of seed to sow. "There might be a couple of horses and/or a few sheep" means a whole new world of management. About the only creature that I know of that pretty much 'take care of themselves' are goats, and this is from an 'old goat' Mate of mine up Canberra way.

 

[Sysop]

If you have mare breeding in your future leave out the Fescue I have learned.

You should share the reasoning rather than leaving everyone wonder... You're talking to people that want to learn and who appreciate any information you can provide.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Placenta sac gets too thick to break in the birthing process is all I know so they can suffocate if one one is around to break it .
Well one said it will dry up their milk but it seems that is an old husband's tale the best I can find.

 

[Pete Judd]

I am about 100 miles south of you and that mixture will do you good. But beware you will be doing a lot of mowing in the spring.

 

[Ken45101]

I am aware of the issue with fescue and pregnant mares. However, we have lots of fescue here and never had a problem with a dozen foals. IDK how critical of an issue it really is. However I would not plant fescue if I had a choice.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I am aware of the issue with fescue and pregnant mares. However, we have lots of fescue here and never had a problem with a dozen foals. IDK how critical of an issue it really is. However I would not plant fescue if I had a choice.

The owner we bought from said he was warned by the seller but say the mare was about to foal so he broke the sack with a stick and all was well. One person we visited loss a foal last year but were not there at the event. Fescue has been around a long time so I do not see it as a show stopper. I do think it is best that mares do not foal with no one being around as a general practice for many reasons.

 

[EddieWalker]

All of the grasses you mention for your pasture grass can also be used for lawns. The big difference is how high you cut it and how often. As for what it will look like, it should look beautiful if you can keep the weeds under control.

Eddie

 

[Gary Fowler]

When I built my house, I put in Bermuda in the yard around the house (35 pallets of sod) where construction had pretty much killed everything. I used Bermuda basically because it was cheaper and more drought resistant than many other lawn grasses. The rest of the 5.5 acre yard is common pasture grass consisting of a mixture of Bahia, fescue and Dallas sp?grass. It makes a pretty lawn at least from a distance. It isn't as thick as the Bermuda or St. Augustine which is common in the south, but it tolerates heat and drought much better than the Bermuda. We had over 6 month of no rain last year which browned everything down but where my sprinkler system ran and this spring we had plenty of rain and the same field yielded 2 cuttings of hay. It comes back well from lack of water, although with you in the Pacific NW, I doubt that will be a problem. The only problem with pasture grasses in a lawn is all the stems that it puts out. I mow every week and even then I have tons of tall stems sticking up that are really hard to cut. The Bahia grass is what is doing that and they put out a black "soot" like pollen that gets all over you if you walk thru it.

 

[KennyG]

If you want no maintenance and attractive appearance you might consider Hard Fescue. I don't know if it would work as an actual feed pasture grass, but I put this in around my pond and have been very impressed. It thrives in very poor soil (mine is mainly sand) and requires no fertilizer. It grows about 6 inches tall or so and stops. If you want you can mow it down to about 3 inches minimum, but it should never be mowed more than once a month. I think it's called a clumping grass but it's pretty fine leaved and doesn't have apparent large clumps. It seems to choke out most of the weeds.

 

[DaNag]

Thanks for all the feedback, folks - appreciated.

No concern about pregnant mares - that's not in our future. Some of the grass suggestions sound nice, but other than the fescues - I didn't get good feedback from our local ag gal as to suitability in our climate/soils.

Given how cheap the pasture mix is, and the fact I'm pinching pennies after all the clearing/field prep - we're going that route. Sealing the deal, was my ability to see it in person...the guy I bought it from had many acres of it planted around his place, and I was able to see it from stubble height to about 6" in the various pastures he was rotating livestock through.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks for all the feedback, folks - appreciated.

No concern about pregnant mares - that's not in our future. Some of the grass suggestions sound nice, but other than the fescues - I didn't get good feedback from our local ag gal as to suitability in our climate/soils.

Given how cheap the pasture mix is, and the fact I'm pinching pennies after all the clearing/field prep - we're going that route. Sealing the deal, was my ability to see it in person...the guy I bought it from had many acres of it planted around his place, and I was able to see it from stubble height to about 6" in the various pastures he was rotating livestock through.

Well I think you are best in going with what you are seeing for your own eyes in the area. What works well in the Midwest or South undoubtably won't be best in the NW and vise versa. I would definitely be talking to the locals for best advice!

 

[whistlepig]

We have tried several different grasses for horses. Horses do more damage to pastures with their feet than by grazing. By far fescue it the best for us for horse traffic. It is not the tastiest grass that we have ever tried. We worked some ground and planted it in Kentucky Bluegrass. The horses dearly loved it. We called it our "Chef's Salad" pasture. But the horses destroyed the Kentucky Bluegrass with their feet pretty quickly. It is a fragile grass. And expensive. The warnings about brood mares and fescue are valid. A consideration to taken.

 

[dragoneggs]

We have tried several different grasses for horses. Horses do more damage to pastures with their feet than by grazing. By far fescue it the best for us for horse traffic. It is not the tastiest grass that we have ever tried. We worked some ground and planted it in Kentucky Bluegrass. The horses dearly loved it. We called it our "Chef's Salad" pasture. But the horses destroyed the Kentucky Bluegrass with their feet pretty quickly. It is a fragile grass. And expensive. The warnings about brood mares and fescue are valid. A consideration to taken.

Yes around here (PNW) Fescue blends are preferred. A healthy dose of Kentucky Bluegrass makes it prettier. I can't speak for grass as a diet, I didn't even like salad until I was about 30years old. Okay I confess... I had a bet with my dad as a teenager that I would never like salad. He actually paid up the $5 before I started liking it.

 

[forgeblast]

Prairie Grass, Turfgrass and WIldflower Seeds | Stock Seed Farms may have the mix you need. I have used them a few times for food plots.

 

[super55]

All the seeds you have listed are fescue cool season grasses and are very tolerant of mowing. Kept in check it will give similar look to lawn.
P. Ryegrass usually has a heavy % in lawn seed. Orchardgrass sprouts very early and is extremely competitive (to the point that it becomes a hard to kill weed for a lot of row farmers). It grows like mad and is usually used heavily in hayfields. Tall fescue comes in as usually a bunchgrass similar to switchgrass. If it's turf type tall fescue than it will look similar to kentucky bluegrass.

What is sounds like they recommended for you is a 50% hay seed and 50% lawn seed. Kept in check at 4-5 inches tall it will have very similar looks to lawn. Of course this is all pending on what climate zone your in, rainfall, summertime temps etc. Cool season grasses usually are very robust and vibrant in growing in the spring and fall but tend to taper off and slow down when the summertime temps get up in the 80's and 90's. Once fall comes around and the nights start getting cool it usually takes off again so when you are in your hottest/driest days of summer I would try and keep the lawn at least 6 inches. If the grass ends up burning it usually opens a gateway for weeds to get established before the fescue can rebound. The shorter you cut the grass the greater chance of burning