I need advice on winter grass....

[jdot]

This past spring I had a pasture sprigged with Jiggs. I got lucky and got rain on it a couple of days after it was planted. About a week later I fertilized it and got another rain. It has done really well through the summer and now looking ahead for the fall I was wondering what would be my best choice to overseed with for winter grass? I would like to do some type of clover (legume) to help with nitrogen levels but whatever I plant has to be safe for horses.... Maybe clover is and I just dont know it, thats what I am asking for. Considered ryegrass, but would like some more advice. I called my County Extension Agent today but he was out. I will call him again tomorrow but would like to hear from some of you and your past experiences.
Thanks,
:tiphat:

 

[Jogeephus]

I don't know where you are at but ryegrass mixed with clover is hard to beat in my opinion.

 

[deenranch]

harry vetch.... i planted it in my oats a few years ago and never had a problem with my horses on it... baled it and fed it the next winter... no problems

 

[1982vett]

I count on ryegrass in my hayfields to make a bumper first cut (if it rains). Clover is a good addition too. But ryegrass needs to be taken off early and not allowed to choke the bermuda. I've been playing around with 50# of oats drilled into the bermuda instead of 10# of ryegrass. Doesn't seem to choke the bermuda as bad as ryegrass and if it rains, you get a little earlier grazing. Finishes off earlier in the spring too.

 

[BC]

If this is a first year sprigged field, I would defer overseeding until after the second growing season. This lets the Jiggs get it's roots firmly established and over winter one year without competition. After that a combination of ryegrass and clover will extend your grazing season.

If you must overseed this year, only seed at a rate of one acre per horse to prevent too much competition next spring. Use 30 to 35 lb/acreof ryegrass. Horses will do as well as if they have been grain fed once the ryegrass is going.

Next spring , be prepared to mow the ryegrass to allow the bermuda to come on. In my area that would be the first of May.

 

[Kingfisher]

This past spring I had a pasture sprigged with Jiggs. I got lucky and got rain on it a couple of days after it was planted. About a week later I fertilized it and got another rain. It has done really well through the summer and now looking ahead for the fall I was wondering what would be my best choice to overseed with for winter grass? I would like to do some type of clover (legume) to help with nitrogen levels but whatever I plant has to be safe for horses.... Maybe clover is and I just dont know it, thats what I am asking for. Considered ryegrass, but would like some more advice. I called my County Extension Agent today but he was out. I will call him again tomorrow but would like to hear from some of you and your past experiences.
Thanks,
:tiphat:

Why not call the fellow who sprigged it for you? I think those fellows know what works and what doesn't as well as most.

 

[Kingfisher]

I don't know where you are at but ryegrass mixed with clover is hard to beat in my opinion.

Do you mix the seed or lay one on top of the other? Do you rake the dirt or ?? Thanks in advance. I'm working on a " paddock" out in
my buddies portion of the " desert." I'm convinced that I can grow some grass. I started fencing off @ 3/8 acre and disc it Saturday.
Once I got some of the rocks out it looks like something I can grown more than the 2 prevalant weeds that had dotted this piece.
I'm really not sure what to do next. I was thinking of some clover. The clover and rye mix sounds right considering I'm starting from
scratch........

 

[lavacarancher]

I don't know where you are at but ryegrass mixed with clover is hard to beat in my opinion.

Do you mix the seed or lay one on top of the other? Do you rake the dirt or ?? Thanks in advance. I'm working on a " paddock" out in
my buddies portion of the " desert." I'm convinced that I can grow some grass. I started fencing off @ 3/8 acre and disc it Saturday.
Once I got some of the rocks out it looks like something I can grown more than the 2 prevalant weeds that had dotted this piece.
I'm really not sure what to do next. I was thinking of some clover. The clover and rye mix sounds right considering I'm starting from
scratch........

Hey, Kingfisher, what ever you plant just make sure the deer like it!

 

[johndeerefarmer]

I wouldn't overseed a newly sprigged pasture either unless you fertilized the heck out of it and have full coverage. I tried arrowleaf clover several times and the cows will not eat it except as a last resort. Planting clover doesn't give you "free" nitrogen as most people think. By the time you buy the seed and fertilizer it can be quite expensive.

I have overseeded several fields with ryegrass by lightly disking them and broadcasting the seed. I got a good stand and the cattle like it. What I don't like is that not only did it set my coastal back, the disking also hurt the stand. 2 years later I can still see the places where I planted the ryegrass. Now I only overseed the ryegrass on my common bermuda and dallis grass pastures. BTW- my soils are black gumbo.

Good Luck

 

[Jogeephus]

I don't know where you are at but ryegrass mixed with clover is hard to beat in my opinion.

Do you mix the seed or lay one on top of the other? Do you rake the dirt or ?? Thanks in advance. I'm working on a " paddock" out in
my buddies portion of the " desert." I'm convinced that I can grow some grass. I started fencing off @ 3/8 acre and disc it Saturday.
Once I got some of the rocks out it looks like something I can grown more than the 2 prevalant weeds that had dotted this piece.
I'm really not sure what to do next. I was thinking of some clover. The clover and rye mix sounds right considering I'm starting from
scratch........

I mix it and use a chain drag attached to about 10 foot of chain and a broadcast spreader on grassland. Its a one pass deal and I can see where I've been. Been real pleased with the results.