Making A Pasture

[Wehner Homestead]

Ugh! Can’t like that.

 

[Baymule]

Still no rain. This is pasture #2, where the clover was 4 feet high.

A close up. The grass is trying, we have watered it, but it’s not the same as rain.

This is pasture #1. Putting the chicken tractor on it helped with fertility, we have watered it, but still need rain.

We bedded the Cornish cross with hay. We spread the hay out and it is helping to shade the grass roots. Without it, the sun would heat up the sand and scorch the roots.

 

[Mike CHS]

Are those conditions normal for y'all this time of year?

 

[Baymule]

No, it usually doesn’t get this dry until mid July to August. We haven’t had rain for 2 months. We will sprig more this fall and plant clovers and rye grass again. Eventually we will have pastures. There is several hundred acres across the road from us, same sandy soil, with established pasture. It is leased for cattle. The owner of the cattle removes them and brings them back, rotating them to other pastures. So I know that we will someday have grass as good or better.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I know while it is dry ya sure wouldn't, but when ya see rain in the forecast....if ya had some hulled seed on hand....ya could toss it out amongst what ya have and could give the sprigging some assistance in getting the ground covered to help in shading the roots and moisture retention. I'm also not suggesting to seed the whole pastures, but concentrate on smaller areas to get it started....I know ya are wanting to save $$, but grass seed isn't too expensive to just use as an aid to the sprigs....not seeded at a heavy rate, but hand sown....just a thought.....

 

[greybeard]

This is pasture #1. Putting the chicken tractor on it helped with fertility, we have watered it, but still need rain.

To equal even 1/4" of rain, you would need to apply 6,789 gallons of water spread out evenly across each acre or 27,154 gallons to equal 1" of rainfall.

And, it still wouldn't be the same as rainfall because the water you apply to any specific area migrates both vertically and horizontally thru the soil, whereas rainfall would cover all the adjoining area as well.

 

[promiseacres]

how disheartening

 

[Bruce]

but still need rain.

Now there is an understatement. Hopefully you won't get it in the form of another Harvey though.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Here’s to hoping you get an overnight rain shower that’s nice and steady and let’s the ground soak it all up!!

 

[greybeard]

No, it usually doesn’t get this dry until mid July to August. We haven’t had rain for 2 months. We will sprig more this fall and plant clovers and rye grass again. Eventually we will have pastures. There is several hundred acres across the road from us, same sandy soil, with established pasture. It is leased for cattle. The owner of the cattle removes them and brings them back, rotating them to other pastures. So I know that we will someday have grass as good or better.

What grasses are you sprigging in?
Have you had soil samples done?
I suspect your pH is going to be pretty high if you are in the Conroe, Pickton, Lovelady, or Wolfpen soil category.
https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/texas/texas-general_soil_map-2008.pdf

Other than annual ryegrass, I don't know of any grass seed that will germinate here without seedbed prep and even ryegrass has to have soil contact.