Turning about 3/4 acre lawn into "horse hay" Field

JeffinIA · Sep 21, 2014

I've got about a 2 acre hay field ,Alfalfa/Grass mix ,That the Lower 1/3 Repeatedly gets flooded and Kills everything except fox tail. I have about 3/4 acre of "house Yard" next to my hay field that I want to add as Hay field. What do I need to do? Do I need to have it plowed under , disc ed and replanted or can I drill new seed into it and go from there? I realize alfalfa won't grow next to an established crop. I'm More trying to get Horse hay. I have someone that bales it . He gets 1st and 3rd cutting, He grinds and mixes his for feed. and Small bales 2nd cutting For me.I also have two small trees to remove . Any Suggestions short of Getting rid of the Horse( Which has Been the Popular Vote?)

Thanks Jeff

bcp · Sep 21, 2014

I'm no help.

Horse feeding problems, on acreage, always make me wonder how wild horses can survive for years, all seasons, in the desert, without being fed.

Bruce

hosspuller · Sep 21, 2014

I would use Round-up on it, then use a no-till drill. The round-up will kill everything but still leave residue & roots to hold the dirt from erosion. Tillage brings up weed seed from the soil. A clean planting is more valuable than a mixed "what-ever". Especially for hay. One wants an even drying crop. That's difficult with a mix of stuff.

JeffinIA · Sep 22, 2014

Thought about Round up but Was told with the cooler temps we are having it might not work .

Gary Fowler · Sep 22, 2014

JeffinIA said:
Thought about Round up but Was told with the cooler temps we are having it might not work .

You are right there. Roundup needs to be applied to actively growing grass for it to work properly. YOU may still get some kill with it though.
Not much you can plant in the winter, so why not wait till spring, disk it up and allow the sod to die, then disk again to break up any remaining sod clumps. Sow your seed and lightly drag a harrow over it to cover. Roundup for a broadcast cover on 3/4 acre is going to be a bit expensive, much more than a disk, assuming you have the equipment, but it you have to hire it done, then its about a break even cost if you can spray it yourself. Just wait till the grass has greened up and spray it. Wait at least 2 weeks after spraying prior to seeding. Check the seeding application for roundup as it effects germination of some seeds also.