Pature help

[Minelson]

One of our pastures seems over thick with dead grass. I have cut it twice and let it sit for a while and today I harrowed it. some clumps are large and a lot of mold. I would like to rake it but we don't have a rake so it would have to be done by hand But maybe it's ok and the vegetation will just break down over winter? My horses use this pasture and I sure don't like the idea of them being around all that mold so I closed it off. What would you do with it? Any thoughts appreciated

[jwal10]

Keep mowing it until it is smaller pieces that will break down quicker. I would keep horses off until it breaks down....James

[ksfarmer]

Mowing and harrowing is what caused the clumps and wads that are moldy. In the future I would leave it alone and if possible burn it in the spring to remove all the old dead growth.

[jwal10]

Need a flail mower, one time over slow and it would be tiny pieces....James

[CIW]

We commonly burn our hay fields if we aren't able to get them grazed off. You may find that by spring that the mice have taken up residence in the clumps of grass. You don't want to be baling mouse nests in next years hay.
The ashes will change the Ph level in the soil.

[Heritagefarm]

Originally Posted by CIW

We commonly burn our hay fields if we aren't able to get them grazed off.

Burning grass is bad for the soil.

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by CIW

We commonly burn our hay fields if we aren't able to get them grazed off. You may find that by spring that the mice have taken up residence in the clumps of grass. You don't want to be baling mouse nests in next years hay.
The ashes will change the Ph level in the soil.

Grass so much healthier after that, fire is a persons friend. But laws now get in the way.
Many burned their pastures and land years ago, and it was nice and rich the following year. That is what made the " Prairies" so rich years ago was the fires that lightening started.

[Txrider]

I'd like to burn mine, 6 years of growing chest high and falling back down in the winter has left me with a similar situation than the OP, but I have this years mowed grass and weeds on top of previous years.

Been thinking of burning but I don't know the laws, and there is often a fire hazard where I'm at., or maybe disking it, or just hiring someone to come turn it under and plant bermuda.

[motdaugrnds]

Mowing and burning is the way to go. If you chop it up fine enough the old grass will come up thru it next spring even if you didn't get to rake it this fall.

[ksfarmer]

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

Burning grass is bad for the soil.

Not true. Some of the best grassland in the world is in the Flint Hills area and we burn on a regular schedule. Recommendation of Kansas State University range management specialists. This dates back to the days of buffalo. The Indians knew the buffalo would be found on prairie that burned previously. Cattle prefer to graze where burning took place in the spring and will show a better gain on burned vs unburned. Burning also helps reduce the competition of many weeds, brush and trees such as red cedar.

[GoldenCityMuse]

Burning depends on the soil. Ashes are mostly alkaline. If you have volcanic derived soils, that are already alkaline, it does not help so much. But generally it helps most soils.

[KSALguy]

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

Burning grass is bad for the soil.

i dont know what planet that is true on but not here, Burning actually impruves grass quality and is done rutinely to help improve an area.

[Txrider]

Yup I wouldn't mind burning mine, I guess I'll have a talk with the volunteer fire dept folks some time the winter about it. Nearest fire dept is in town, a town of only 275 people though.

[wy_white_wolf]

I vote for burning too. we did every spring that weather would let us on the pastures and hayfields. You have to figure that much of the natural grasslands in the west burned off every year or 2 like the savanna in Africa does.