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

 

[Oldoak]

For pasture seeding, audsp98 would want a mixture of seed varieties.

As someone mentioned, a soil test would be very helpful and can save money in the long run. At a bare minimum be sure the soil PH is suitable. Without the right PH level, much of any added fertilizer will be wasted, producing a poor crop.

 

[joeu235]

Call your county ag agency.

Home - Jefferson County Extension Office | Alabama Cooperative Extension System - ACES.edu

 

[Dadnatron]

As joeu235 states... use your County Extension. They are already paid for and typically have a pretty good understanding of how things grow and work in your area.

And as Oldoak states... a mixture is by far preferable for a pasture. A mix of 'cool and warm season' grasses will allow growth throughout the year. And the last thing you want is some funky virus/fungus to hit your 1-grass field, and go through it like fire. Clover mixed with grasses can be beneficial in that it provides Nitrogen fixation for your grass.

But one thing... make sure you get the 'CLEANEST SEED' you can get. Especially if you are planting a mix broad leaf (clover) and grass. Because you really limit your ability to fight weeds in a mix.

 

[joeu235]

... a mixture is by far preferable for a pasture. .

One negative for a mixture is it makes it harder to apply herbicide. Its really hard to spray summer weeds and keep your clover, at least where we live. A monoculture means you can find one that doesn't affect the specific plant you are growing.

 

[Dadnatron]

One negative for a mixture is it makes it harder to apply herbicide. Its really hard to spray summer weeds and keep your clover, at least where we live. A monoculture means you can find one that doesn't affect the specific plant you are growing.

Certainly. But even a mixture of grasses would be preferable to a single grass species which grows well only under certain conditions. In KY, Orchard and Bluegrass are commonly sown together for a combination of cool season and warm season growth. If you aren't worried about lactating mares, then adding fescue to these 2 above would give you a great pasture which can still be sprayed for broadleaf weeds. (I don't know about Alabama though... it will likely be a different mix of appropriate grasses for that climate/latitude).

 

[lucky llama]

I live in Pass Christian, MS. Over the past eight years i have established several pastures with Argentine bahia. Goats, cows, and horses do well on it. It is drought tolerant and has crowded out most other grasses and nearly all weeds.

 

[TractorGuy]

What is growing on the land now? I have some land that was clear cut a couple of years ago and just mowing it has resulted in grass growing. Granted it has abut 4 different types but it would feed a goat with no problem. The deer seem to like it fine.

I am eventually going to spray it with Pasture Pro from TSC and maybe follow up with one of their pasture mixes. The Pasture Pro says to treat twice a year to keep the broad leaf weeds under control.

 

[jjp8182]

I'd agree with the suggestion of contacting the local extension -- it may also be helpful to discuss what you plan on doing with the cows as (from my understanding) there are some different considerations for dairy cows vs. cattle being raised for beef.

I'd also expect that for the long term a blend of will be preferable as goats and cows tend to be more complimentary diets rather than having a whole lot of overlap. One (rather enthusiastic) article on the topic:
Using Goats for Vegetation Management

Personally, unless there are hillsides or other terrain features that would drive a lot of erosion I think I'd wait another month or two letting natural vegetation grow and then seed/over-seed when the conditions are more favorable for germination. Granted if the weather has been as wet there as it has been here in Northern Alabama pasture mixes might not have too much of a problem. From everything I've read right now isn't a recommended time to be planting many types of pasture vegetation due to the temperatures: http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0149/ANR-0149.pdf

However, your local extension will likely have much better guidance for your area on when/what to plant for your situation and future plans.