Bright Raven
Well-known member
This is the second year in a row that grass has been slow in growing. We have had 6 years of above average rainfall. I am wondering if the soils are suffering from leaching of nutrients faster than they are being replaced by the process of weathering.
Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus can be replaced by fertilizer but the other micronutrients are more difficult to supplement. Our county agent said that the hay she tested from our County has been going down over the last 2 years. Most attribute that to high rainfall in the summer.
The other factor has been low temperatures. We were down to 21 degrees just a week ago. I stopped putting out hay this weekend. The grass is just now starting to grow. We are in a cycle of later, shorter springs. Last year, spring was late and it went right into a hot wet summer.
Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus can be replaced by fertilizer but the other micronutrients are more difficult to supplement. Our county agent said that the hay she tested from our County has been going down over the last 2 years. Most attribute that to high rainfall in the summer.
The other factor has been low temperatures. We were down to 21 degrees just a week ago. I stopped putting out hay this weekend. The grass is just now starting to grow. We are in a cycle of later, shorter springs. Last year, spring was late and it went right into a hot wet summer.