With snow on the floor and freezing temperatures, it is hard to start considering your spring and summer pasture grass planting strategies. Yet this is the best time to begin preparing your grazing and hay fields to get an opportunity to produce an abundant harvest. First you have to look at your current pasture grass fields and the hay you have in the barn today. Are these areas producing the sort of harvest to feed all your possessions? What is the quality of the baled hay on your barn you are currently feeding? Are you thinking you will need to move towards organic pasture grass or higher sugar grasses? Do your existing ryegrasses re-grow fast and crowd out weeds?
To get the answer for all these and other questions in your pasture grass you will need to do your own homework. Begin by getting your lands tested to see if you have got the proper nutritional values on your fields. Check to find out if your field might have to be aerated, over seeded or totally re-seeded. Sometimes just aerating to eliminate compaction layers on your soil then over seeding high sugar grass seeds can provide you the best results. Then do some research online and speak with your regional extension office to get ideas on the sort of perennial ryegrasses and pasture grass which will work best in your town.
No matter if you raise cattle, sheep, goats, wildlife, or milk cows there are lots of pasture grass seed mixes available. You should be seeking proven ryegrasses with higher sugar book which cause lush, thick pastures that defy dry summers and cold winters. They also give additional energy for quick re-growth following grazing and help crowd out weeds. Most of all, higher grass plants are demonstrated to boost livestock yields. That is more milk, beefier cattle, and bigger sheep and goats. If you are seeking to attract deer and other game to your food plot grasses, start looking for the blends designed with this in mind.
In Summary, there is no better time to review your spring and summer pasture grass needs. Use the two seed companies early order discounts and these cold winter days to plan ahead for summer and spring. Harvesting and storing with the use of a spading fork undergo the plant foundation deep enough to Reach the floor to penetrate the main system loosen the ground for easy pulling of the entire clustered plant. Cut all of the leaves at least 8 – 12 inches from the root foundation with the use of a sharp knife or pruning shear.