Year-round pasture guide

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Growing healthy, beautiful pastures is a year-round project, according to Southern States Marketing Manager for Crops Phil Howard. Howard puts it all in perspective with the following month-bymonth listing of "what to do when," January through October. See your Southern States dealer for seed, fertilizer and various equipment for planting and maintaining pastures.

January:

Lime may be applied
Determine animal feed requirements for the year and outline a 12-month Forage Production and Use Plan to meet the needs.
Winter annuals, such as ryegrass, should be grazed from 6-8 inches back to 3-4 inches.
Alfalfa growth should be grazed off to reduce weevil populations and provide high quality feed.
Winter weeds in alfalfa should be treated while they are small.
Fescue can be grazed down to 1-2 inches this time of year without hurting spring regrowth.

February:

Apply Nitrogen to cool-season grasses to stimulate early spring growth. Phosphorus and Potassium may be applied in February or later (first Nitrogen application in March).
Overseed legumes (Ladino) into well-grazed (2 inches or less), well-limed grass pastures.
Lime fields that will be prepared for spring plantings.
Best dates to reseed are February 15 to March 31 and then August 25 to September 15.

March:

Send off a soil sample, if not done already.
Overseed legumes 3 to 4 pounds per acre, drilled, or 4 to 5 pounds per acre, broadcasted.
Apply Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium to the cool-season grasses to increase spring production.
Begin grazing of fall-planted fescue, orchardgrass, and clover when growth reaches about 6 inches.

April:

Apply 60-80 pounds Nitrogen when bermudagrass begins active growth.
Graze winter annual pastures to use all of the forage and retain quality by preventing excessive seedhead formation.
If no more than 150 pounds Nitrogen is used on cool season grasses, make second application of 50 to 70 pounds per acre early in the month.

May:

Plant warm-season grasses (bermudagrass).
Plant summer annuals (pearl millets) at two-week intervals to stagger the forage availability.
Fertilize warm-season grasses with Nitrogen after each cutting or every 4-6 weeks on pastures.
Spray pasture weeds while they are small (3 inches) for most effective control.
Do not apply Nitrogen to fescue or orchardgrass pastures after April, until August.

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Pick up a copy of the Horse Pasture Guide at your Southern States store, where you'll find everything you need, year-round, to grow healthy pastures.