Landowners may be taking inventory of their pastures
this summer to determine whether an improvement like grass seeding
or reseeding is in order.
However, they may want to consider all the factors involved in a
successful seeding operation.
The decision to reseed an area is a long-term
commitment of time and money. It generally will take about 4-5
years to establish a successful grass stand. Before making this decision you
should assess the current condition of the vegetation. Are there remnant native grasses
still present? Maybe it
just needs a couple years rest from over-grazing to improve the
health of the stand. In
most cases if the grazing management is not changed and a good
rotation grazing system is not implemented, the subsequent grass
seeding is doomed to failure.
Once the decision is made to reseed, the best chance
for success involves planting a cover crop first. This is an annual crop of sterile
oats, sterile forage sorghum, sudangrass, or millet that should be
planted in the spring and allowed to grow through the
summer. This cover crop
will compete aggressively with weeds the first year, help control
erosion, and retain soil moisture. If aggressive noxious weeds are
present it may necessitate planting two years of the cover crop to
ensure the weeds are under control before the permanent vegetation
is planted. The grass is
then seeded directly into the standing dead litter mulch using a
native grass drill. The
drill provides proper seed placement (1/4-3/4” deep) and good seed
to soil contact, ensuring the best chance for success. Recommended seeding dates are
November 1 – April 30 when the ground surface is not
frozen. Generally,
fertilization will encourage more weed growth and is not
recommended. However, it
may be needed in some poor soils. Soil test kits may be obtained from
the CSU Extension Service to determine proper fertilizer
application rates.
Grasses generally will establish their root system
first and top growth normally amounts to a single narrow leaf the
first year and can be hard to detect. Patience, exclusion from grazing, and
weed control are needed during the first 4-5 years of grass seed
establishment. Weeds
challenge small grass seedlings by competing for moisture,
nutrients, and sunlight.
Weeds should be mowed as necessary to prevent weed seed
production. Grazing should
be excluded to allow the young grass seedlings to become fully
established.
For grass seed mix recommendations or other
questions related to grass seeding you may contact the NRCS office
in Franktown at 303-688-3042.