Planting alfalfa in field?

Willowynd · #1 07/09/08, 11:14 PM

OK, I know this sounds like a stupid question, but I was wondering if there is a way to plant or overseed with alfalfa on my property? I do not want to plow up the existing field grass, just want to add alfalfa so when I get sheep and a horse (maybe a year from now), there will be a good mix in the one acre pastures I will rotate them in. I am trying to make it so I do not have to buy hay for most of the year. Also, how tall will I need to let it grow before I get them? Like can I mow it for a year and expect it to still grow? Or is it something I will have to reseed if I mow it? I don't mind letting it few to a few inches, but really do not want to have knee high grass

Suggestions?

Sergeant82d · #2 07/10/08, 02:05 AM

You can spread the seed late this fall or early next year with a hand-cranked seed spreader. The frost and later snow and rains will get some of it growing next spring. I'd mow the pasture when the growing alfalfa is getting 4-6 inches tall... so that it can compete more equally with the other plants which would probably be taller than that. But I'd also let the pasture grow pretty tall before mowing it AFTER the alfalfa is established, and that only "rarely", for the first year, anyway. At least, if it's to be a pasture and not just an extension of your yard.

I'd also be carefull if that acre is supposed to be the sole grazing for a horse and more than one sheep. It would probably handle that load fine in the spring; late summer and having any saved up for the following winter may be another story...

HTH!
Brad

Willowynd · #3 07/10/08, 03:54 AM

Yes, I did not expect to have any saved up for winter, even with rotating between 2 one acre pastures, but my thought is the rest when switching pastures would allow it to recover so it will be enough for spring through fall. I am not planning on keeping the horse turned out 24/7 either. Just out for a few hours in the morning and evening and worked for more exercise. I will supplement the horse with a quality feed as well as it will need more than just pasture being ridden hunter/jumper most days. I also know the damage a single horse can do to a pasture when allowed free acess all the time...before long it would be nothing but unuseable weeds.

rambler · #4 07/10/08, 10:33 PM

You need real short grass, and you need a lot of rain to get the alfalfa started! Grass likes to dry out the top few inches of ground, not like a nurse crop of oats that comes up with the alfalfa....

I've redone the pastures by running the field cultivator through the sod, about 1 inch deep, roughing up the grass pretty hard. Planted alfalfa & clover into that. Turned out to be a drought year that spring, so had only ok results.

You want to hit a rainy period, early in spring or if you get fall showers.

You know if you have any exsisting alfalfa growing, it will kill any new seedlings, so you can't interseed new alfalfa into old alfalfa....

--->Paul