Rye to Bahia

[jj216]

This spring I will kinda be doing the opposite of what I usally do.I have overseeded my established bahia with ryegrass in the winter and everything is fine there.But I have a new pasture that I planted Abruzzi rye in this winter.Mainly for erosion control.I have not put anything on it other than the deer.It came up pretty good and my soil is good.So Im ready to plant my bahia around march.I will be using a friends seed drill.My question is should I just mow the rye as low as i can and plant the seed or should i harrow the rye up and pack it to a new seed bed.The rye probably wont die until may or so as far as temps.So would it be taking in my nitrogen and what not that could be going into the bahia only.Competeing with it.Thanks

 

[alabama]

You may try to graze it and then spray with 1gt of round-up two weeks before drilling in grass seed in May.

 

[jj216]

You think i should wait til may to plant the bahia seed.I was thinking late march or early april when i should get some good rain.Threat of frost will be gone by april.I aint really worried about utilizing the rye ,Id like to get my permanent grass in and going.

 

[jj216]

Ps- Rain could be an issue in May-the rest of summer.

 

[MikeC]

The seed may lay there until the soil temps rise enough to germinate the seed.

The reason for disking/harrowing would be to reduce competition from other species and make a proper seedbed.

I never get as good a stand when sod-seeding as I do when drilling in a seedbed, no matter what the crop is.

 

[jj216]

Mike c ,when would you plant it.Whats the soil temp need to be for bahia to germinate.I got plenty but never really planted alot at once.Just kinda pulled some off the seed head to put in small areas or bare spots

 

[MikeC]

Mike c ,when would you plant it.Whats the soil temp need to be for bahia to germinate.I got plenty but never really planted alot at once.Just kinda pulled some off the seed head to put in small areas or bare spots

Remember, alot of times you can sweep seeds off the hay shed floor.

I would plant it about April just before a rain.

 

[jj216]

Thanks,I dont cut hay but I will harrow up the rye and prepare a good seed bed and plant it around April when I know rains a coming.I can buy seed in bulk locally to put out about 25# per acre for the new pasture.I read somewhere where bahia germinates best at 85 degrees.Probably wont be that in april but its possible here.85 in may or june wont do me no good without rain.