Spring Drilling Fescue

[tsellars]

Anyone have any luck drilling KY31 in the spring? In north central Arkansas, would think end of February/1st of March to plant?

 

[kenny thomas]

Yes it's pretty easy if planted the correct depth. And that's about the correct time also.

 

[tsellars]

1/4-1/2 inch? Need to clip the pasture more frequently or just let it go?

 

[kenny thomas]

If its pasture it needs to be short when you drill.

 

[sstterry]

Normally drill Ky31 at 1/2 inch at exactly the time frame you said. Clip the pasture when the heads go to seed (don't clip too close and also unless you are wanting it to mature and reseed the pasture).

Edit: As to clipping, do you mean before you drill or after it is established? Listen to KT more than me, he is the KY31 expert.

 

[kenny thomas]

Normally drill Ky31 at 1/2 inch at exactly the time frame you said. Clip the pasture when the heads go to seed (don't clip too close and also unless you are wanting it to mature and reseed the pasture).

Edit: As to clipping, do you mean before you drill or after it is established? Listen to KT more than me, he is the KY31 expert.

No expert but have made all the mistakes.
Also if you can let it get a seedhead and established well it will stand the grazing much better.
Too many people try to graze all grasses when they are small and not well establish and the cows kill the seedlings.

 

[tsellars]

@kenny thomas @sstterry

I was meaning clip the existing grass after planting new. Was thinking I would need to keep the existing grass in check to give the new a better chance to establish. Would be drilling an existing pasture that has lots of six weeks fescue that comes up every spring and then lays over once it matures and turns brown, drives me nuts.

 

[kenny thomas]

Yes if you can stay above the new seedlings it's fine. But the KY31 should knock back the other grasses after the first year.

 

[tsellars]

Got it. NRCS here is saying 20lb PLS an acre for the drill. That about right in your experience?

 

[kenny thomas]

That's on the high side but should get you a good stand.
Did you soil sample? I will have to look but seems like the 6 week fescue is an indication of something lacking. It also is a result of thin grasses.

 

[tsellars]

Haven't got it back yet. Had one done last summer for a fall NRCS clover deal in the same field. Needed 2 tons of lime per acre and the the fertilizer of course, hoping it doesn't need the lime or as much again. Tried broadcasting some fescue in with the clover, it didn't take.

 

[Ebenezer]

Likely a failure.

 

[Banjo]

My opinion is fescue should be sown in late summer or fall at the beginning of the cool season growth cycle. If you wait until late winter or early spring then you are entering the tail end of its growth cycle....not impossible, just harder as a rule IMO. Running a grass harrow in the fall will stimulate some dormant fescue seeds if you already have a good supply in the soil bank.

 

[kenny thomas]

Haven't got it back yet. Had one done last summer for a fall NRCS clover deal in the same field. Needed 2 tons of lime per acre and the the fertilizer of course, hoping it doesn't need the lime or as much again. Tried broadcasting some fescue in with the clover, it didn't take.

If you limed last fall it's unlikely that you will need more yet. Frost seeding clover works ok and it's hit and miss with the fescue. But that would not be done until February or so.

 

[HDRider]

It mostly likely, hardly ever, will not survive the summer.

Late September, early October is your best bet.

 

[Little Joe]

I've always been told it's best to plant fescue in early fall here in Arkansas so it establishes good root before the summer heat. You will probably get a good stand if you plant early spring but it might not survive if we have a dry, hot summer.

 

[chaded]

Here it is a toss up planting in late summer. I just did an 1-1.5 acre lot with fescue and covered the entire thing with hay. The fescue came up and then we went in a dry spell and it got torched. I waited until late Octobe or beginning of November and did it again with cereal eye and they are both up and holding on even though we have got several frosts.

I should of known better because I've had to push my food plot plantings a month or more later because it has been very dry late summer.

 

[HDRider]

This is a very region specific question