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Professional Atlanta, GA on Oct 24, 2011

I have a question about grass.

We have a 5 acre pasture on the side of the mountain that is rocky, red Georgia soil in some places. We have successfully gotten some grass established since we bulldozed it 4 years ago. Greg & another fellow hand spread bermuda & fescue before last weeks rain. We know that we will fertilize next. What advice can you give. The pasture is for our horses (& of course wild deer, LLOL).

6 Comments

Donna Dixson Buford, GA

Well the bad news is , your Bermuda is not going to germinate very well as the temperatures are already below what they like, and it will not have time to really establish before cold damage might occur. Go ahead and apply a generic 10-10-10 at around 200-250 lbs per acre.
Lee Anne, I have some important information to share with you depending on what type fescue you seeded out and how valuable those horses are to you. Let me know, won't waste pixel space if you ...»
didn't use the K-31. (well I will if anyone else is interested)

on Oct 24, 2011 · Like 0
Culpepper Carpets and Int... Atlanta, GA

I meant winter rye...Sorry I am a knuckle-head. Well I am sure interested. Thank you for responding. I sure know how expensive the little darlings are!!LOL

on Oct 24, 2011 · Like 0
Donna Dixson Buford, GA

Sorry, did you mean winter rye instead of the Bermuda or instead of the fescue?

on Oct 24, 2011 · Like 0
Donna Dixson Buford, GA

Ok- K-31 has a endophyte fungus which is toxic to (amongst other hoov-ed grazers), horses. It will cause- in the summer the horses to run a low grade fever- and in the winter not be able to hold their heat. It constricts blood vessels. It also can cause a host of other problems...take a look at this link
.http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/fescue.htm ...»

We recommend ' Max-Q' tall fescue as an alternative for pasturing livestock.
If you used the k-31 already - you can kill it out using some generic round-up (half a field at a time). Don't graze the critters where you are killing the k-31 out.
The K-31 is not going kill your darlings, but it will make them less than optimum health wise.

on Oct 24, 2011 · Like 1
Culpepper Carpets and Int... Atlanta, GA

You are awesome! Thank you. I did mean instead of the Bermuda. I was working & driving & could not read your post until now, sorry! I will pass this link on to my cowboy.

on Oct 24, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Bermuda, Timothy and rye grasses are the best field grasses for livestock. These deep root grasses are hardy enough to stand up to horses, and do not require much additional fertilizing. Personally I stay away from fertilizing fields with my animals on them. Other then spreading manure, and you need to be careful with that also.
You can add a bit of alfalfa to the mix also. Not to much however as this is not really a good ...»
grazing grass as its to rich for the horses but its a tasty treat for them mixed in with the rest of the other blends.
But your in the south and your blends of grass and soil conditions are much different then up north so choose your grasses carefully to get the most out of them and the soil conditions that you have.
Check out this web page on grasses for pasture horses. http://www.horsepasture.com/warm/

on Oct 25, 2011 · Like 0