fertilizer and seed for pastures

[GingerN]

I feel stupid for asking this, but since Daddy always took care of this, and he is gone, I don't know, so I am asking here.
I have 12 acres that I need to fertilize (and quite possibly lime) and seed for pastures. How much of each do I need per acre? I would like to go with Bermuda since it is a better quality, but since I don't have mares, or cows, fescue would be okay.

Any help I can get from y'all would be most appreciated. Thank you.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Contact your local county extension office.They have all the info you need for your area,plus free soil test (IN NC anyway)They know the pasture your area will grow and the soil test will tell the fert an lime needs. Eddie

[GingerN]

Originally Posted by EDDIE BUCK

Contact your local county extension office.They have all the info you need for your area,plus free soil test (IN NC anyway)They know the pasture your area will grow and the soil test will tell the fert an lime needs. Eddie

Thank you. I don't know why I didn't think of that myself!

[rambler]

Since you don't offer us any info at all (location, type of grass/forb/legume you want, climate, rainfall, type of critter you are paturing....) we really can't help you at all.

As well, to know what you need to add, you need to know what you have. We can kinda guess on N,P, & K as a wild guess (if we know the above....) but lime is impossible to know without a soil test. as long as you get the soil test for lime, might as well get the P & k & regular micro test as well. Then you know what you need to add.

As mentioned the local county Extension office will be loads of help. They are more familar with your local conditions, wherever that might be?

--->Paul

[rambler]

Here is a web site to help you understsand where you want to get to, lots of info.

http://www.sheepscreek.com/rural/pasture.html

--->Paul

[amelia]

Great article, Rambler. Thanks for posting.

[GingerN]

See, I told you I needed help, I didn't even know what information to give you, lol. Maybe this will help. I am going to get with the county extension office this week to talk to him.

We are in NW GA, and the ground is not clay, believe it or not, which is kind of weird. Its more of a medium tannish slightly rocky soil, on the one pasture, a darker richer looking dirt on one pasture (lots of maple trees in that one) and the back pasture is almost sandy. That part I am not too worried about as we ride there most of the time.

I pasture horses, and would like to plant either fescue or bermuda (or orchard grass). We have a good climate for growing, with a long growing season. This year, our feed store guy was cutting hay in November-not pretty hay, but hay. He also got a first cut right around the first of April for mulch hay. That stuff was beautiful in the field before he cut it, thick dark green, knee high to a short woman.

As far as rainfall, well, we are behind, but normally, we get a good amount. It usually rains about 1x a week on average in the spring and summer, more in the winter and fall.

[mrpink]

the county extension office is the best bet as mentioned above. in Georgia there is an $8.00 per sample charge for the test. any change in topography will net a separate sample. as an example I have only 5 acres one of my samples had a ph of 6.5 only 75 feet way there is a slight hill side that had a ph of 5.0. when you take your sample in they will ask what you want to plant and provide recommendations for that particular plant.

greg

[Bearfootfarm]

richer looking dirt on one pasture (lots of maple trees in that one)

I pasture horses,

Red maples can be toxic to horse

http://www.google.com/search?complete=1&hl=en&safe=off&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=maple+toxic+horses&spell=1