I need to have a 2 acre "virgin" field plowed

[charlz]

Farm and garden stores around here sell 'Pasture Mix' seed. Not sure what all is in it but likely a mix of grasses. I know some is labeled 'no clover' so I would think that is definitely just grass. Grass-only mix is nice as you can spray with 2-4-d or other broad-leaf killer to take the non-grass weeds out once things get going.

Disk can leave it a little rough.... is he going to drag it with a harrow or something to smooth it out? Or is that up to you? Did you figure out what amendments you need to add?

 

[ayelvington]

Buckwheat! It's a great smother crop, does wonderful things for your soil. Bees love it, and you can disc it in later and it makes a stellar green manure.

Buckwheat rocks...

 

[Fug1000]

Disk can leave it a little rough.... is he going to drag it with a harrow or something to smooth it out? Or is that up to you? Did you figure out what amendments you need to add?

This is all up to me. I am going to ask him to disk the heck out of it then I will be on my own.

Buckwheat seems to be the most popular answer here... sound right?

 

[brin]

Whatever you decide to do, if you disk the pasture and start over with a new seed bed then you need to keep your horse off of the pasture for at least 2 years or it will tear the pasture up..You need to give it time to establish itself. If there is anyway through weed control and selectively removing your stumps and then a program of fetilization and weed prevention, after you get a soil test , to maintain your existing pasture grass ( if you have any ) then I would take that option and then aerate it and overseed it in the fall. Good Luck !

 

[dcyrilc]

I use these guys for my seeding needs. They will give good advice if you drop them an Email.:thumbsup:
LA Hearne Company : Quality Seeds Since 1938
I had them ship me 400# of seed for about $200 last year.

 

[Egon]

2000 Ohio Forage Performance Trials, Series 195, Perennial Grasses

A site explaining forage species in Ohio. Note there may be perennial and annual grasses. On two acres with one or two horses annual will only be good for the first year. The horses will have it all grazed down.

Plant the grass seed and cover crop together as early as you can. The cover crop protects the grass from wind and erosion.

Oats or buckwheat make a good cover crop.

 

[Fug1000]

I use these guys for my seeding needs. They will give good advice if you drop them an Email.:thumbsup:
LA Hearne Company : Quality Seeds Since 1938
I had them ship me 400# of seed for about $200 last year.

Thanks. It was considerably more for shipping to me.... almost $200 for shipping but what this site did very well was to give me a breakdown of the types of seeds in their mixtures.... now I know what to look for locally.

 

[dcyrilc]

Thanks. It was considerably more for shipping to me.... almost $200 for shipping but what this site did very well was to give me a breakdown of the types of seeds in their mixtures.... now I know what to look for locally.

I went back and looked at my records. My memory was faulty. It was 250# for $427. Still much cheaper than I can find locally. And a better mix than anything I found around here. Glad the site was able to give you helpful information. One thing I will mention is a few weeks ago, I hand spread about 50# of seed and just left it sit on top of the ground. It has had a fantastic germination rate. Good seed.