Introductions

[Admin]

Just a few words about who you are.
It's not compulsary

[Grassman]

So, here we are then, in the beginning.
Over the coming weeks, months and seasons, between us we will create a searchable database covering a wide range of topics with appropriate advice on many common grass and/or forage production issues. We will cover every angle of growing grass starting from the very basics and working through to more complicated issues as they arise. Please feel free to add any questions, answers or topics you feel may be relevant in any way to any of the forum sections. We may not have an immediate answer, but somebody else viewing may be able to help.
We look forward to the development of Grass Matters.
Grassman.

[Sandi]

Just a few words about who you are.
It's not compulsary

[Sandi]

Thanks to Grassmatters.  Found your site when looking for help.  Great info and have ordered an equine herby mx and overseeding mix, and so hope it works out.

Brought my daughters horse home summer last year so a beginner in pasture management.  Didn't do too bad with the field over the winter but there are areas that need reseeding, where we have cleared back loads of bracken/brambles.  And a some bits that got a bit poached, which I am going to overseed.  There is grass growing back now in the poached areas but its not very dense.

For overseeding the poached areas your mixture spec says grass has to be very short.  How short is very short??  2"?

We are planning to get the field rolled.  Should we overseed then roll?

Thanks again for a great site

 

[JAMES]

Sandi, welcome to the site

The existing grass should be grazed or cut as short as possible to allow sown seeds room to fall through to the soil.
Sowing should only take place when the sward is dry for the very same reason. There is little point in sowing if the seeds are sticking to to wet leaves an inch or two off the ground
If seeds are not in contact with soil they will germinate when moisture is present then quite possibly dry out and die before being able to become established.

(Ideally, harrow the area hard to expose some soil as a seedbed).
Broadcast an appropiate seed mixture
(Ideally, lightly harrow to mix the seed and soil together)
Roll to squeeze the seeds into good contact with the soil.

You may continue to periodically or rotational graze the area to prevent the existing grasses from smothering the new seedlings for 6- 12 weeks to allow good establishment