Seeding a new pasture

[audsp98]

We're about ready to seed our new 9 acre pasture. I'm looking for recommendations for what seed to put down. We may eventually have some goats and cows one day but our focus right now is to just get something on the ground to keep fight mud and erosion.

Any suggestions on grass type? We're in central Alabama.

 

[ustmd]

I am sure some with more expertise than me will chime in, but I think you may be too late to effectively seed this year.

I would waiting until the fall and seed with winter rye. Then play on over seeding in the spring.

 

[ddbackhoe]

We're about ready to seed our new 9 acre pasture. I'm looking for recommendations for what seed to put down. We may eventually have some goats and cows one day but our focus right now is to just get something on the ground to keep fight mud and erosion.

Any suggestions on grass type? We're in central Alabama.

Definitely not a great time of year for planting. If I were doing it though, I'd probably put in a cheap rye grass then reseed again in the fall with something better for the spring season. Have you chatted up your local ag extension office?

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0149/ANR-0149.pdf

 

[Oldoak]

Tractor Supply, and I imagine most all farm stores, sell bags of pasture mix seed, some formula mixes specific for cows and sheep, and another inclined more for horses.

I would not sow winter rye with the idea of overseeding in the Spring. Winter rye, inhibits the growth of some types of pasture mix seeds. I would substitute with forage oats instead if you just wanted a ground cover until you were ready to plant a more permanent pasture seeding.

 

[Dadnatron]

I don't know Alabama seeding schedule, but in Kentucky, we try to seed between 8/15 and 9/15 for 'fall' seeding. If you can have everything in the ground by Oct 1, you are doing great. I suspect you will be about 2 weeks behind us.

No recommendations for grass in your area. Find out what the typical pasture mix is for your area and prep for planting in a few weeks. I'd recommend Roundup within 2-3 days just before you seed. You will take a lot of weed pressure off your seedlings if you do so.

Alabama Planting Guide for Forage grasses

 

[mykleh]

Landino Clover... very climate, shade and soil tolerant plus its a perennial... only gets about 8-12" so nice and low..

 

[BLSXJ]

definitively plan on seeding now, in the fall, and again in the spring.

talk to your local seed/feed supply... they know your area better then anybody on the inter-web.

I've used perennial rye grass with good success.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Look for someone in your area that does sprigs

Brett

 

[fishheadbob]

Talk to your local extension to see what will work in your area. Since you won't be harvesting anything in the near future you could probably get off pretty cheap on their suggestions. All you need is some sort of grass cover. I wouldn't go trying some exotic alfalfa or anything as it will be shot by the time you go looking for it. A soil test is always helpful too.

 

[joeu235]

WW-B Dahl Bluestem is great grass