Developing the grass in your yard for increasing free ranging nutrition

[crazyaboutchickens]

Perhaps this has gone too far off topic. :/ Anyways, upon first seeing this thread, I thought of simply trying out a patch of it for the chickens and ducks to complement their midsummer free-ranging efforts. But looking farther into it and doing a little research, I think dutch white clover may be a good long-term solution for suppressing the japanese stiltgrass that has been taking over this area! Seeing as it's cold-resistant, and the stiltgrass comes a good month later than the first few cold-hardy plants, white clover might have a chance. If seeded thickly enough, that is. Stiltgrass has a habit of crowding most other weeds out first. In addition to those, clover's nitrogen fixing capabilities are interesting as well.

 

[Beekissed]

Now is a good time to seed that clover, right on top of the snow. Old timers used to call snow white fertilizer because it contained more nitrogen than rain does and WDC frost seeds very well. That give is a leg up on getting germinated and growing before most other grasses can kick into gear. I'll be buying some here soon to reseed my side meadow and garden space again....haven't hit that side meadow with seed for a couple of years but did let it grow tall a couple of times this year so it can reseed itself.

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

On top of the snow? Well, I haven't done any winter sowing before, but wouldn't the wild birds get them in that case? They're all over the snowtop and perched on dried winter stems searching for food in the early morning. :/

 

[Beekissed]

On top of the snow? Well, I haven't done any winter sowing before, but wouldn't the wild birds get them in that case? They're all over the snowtop and perched on dried winter stems searching for food in the early morning.

They just disappear right into the snow unless you have a hard pack...they don't recommend it for heavy snow in case the melting would wash away the seed. They call it frost seeding and you are scattering large amounts of seed that are very small. I was afraid of that too the first time I did it but I didn't see any birds picking up the seeds at all. When spring came around I had a lush growth of clover so I'm thinking they made it to the soil.

Usually it's done in late Feb/early Mar. when the ground is merely frozen but not necessarily covered with snow, so you might have more success then. I like to seed it when there is a thin cover of soft snow so the seed gets lost in the snow and is hidden there.

Here's the proper way and reason for doing....of course, I hardly ever do things the way they tell you to.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm856.pdf

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

On top of the snow? Well, I haven't done any winter sowing before, but wouldn't the wild birds get them in that case? They're all over the snowtop and perched on dried winter stems searching for food in the early morning. :/

They just disappear right into the snow unless you have a hard pack...they don't recommend it for heavy snow in case the melting would wash away the seed.  They call it frost seeding and you are scattering large amounts of seed that are very small.  I was afraid of that too the first time I did it but I didn't see any birds picking up the seeds at all.  When spring came around I had a lush growth of clover so I'm thinking they made it to the soil.

Usually it's done in late Feb/early Mar. when the ground is merely frozen but not necessarily covered with snow, so you might have more success then.  I like to seed it when there is a thin cover of soft snow so the seed gets lost in the snow and is hidden there. 

Here's the proper way and reason for doing....of course, I hardly ever do things the way they tell you to. 

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm856.pdf

Well your ways usually have a sensible reason behind them.

Okay, they don't have a seeding rate per acre for white, but I can figure that out as it is. The moisture will help with getting them sprouted earlier. Glad I found this thread before spring came.

 

[Arielle]

Hi Bee, I made it to the thread!!

I started a year ago studying what needed to be done here, and well, it is a daunting job.

I tried sowing oats in shady spots in the woods, and nada grew. ( Even called the supplier to make sure these oats would sprout-- yup, local farmers use it. )

Must be either too much shade or not the right pH.

Ph is hard to change given the numbers of acres I envision. Of course, just haveing a one acre plot growing WDC would be thrilling at this point.

Without spending any money on testing, I'm wondering if I can make some assumptions about the soil here given the trees that do grow, and I suppose I should ask DH, as he knows everything about forests.

Primariy oak and birch, and many wild blueberries, so probably pretty acidic. I should google for any article on converting from woods to pasture . . . .though we have ben semi-successful in a few areas where we penned the sheep, ate off all the fallen leave duff, and cut trees to let in light ( closed canopy, open woods) and tossed their hay on the groudn where it seeded itself.
Hmmm . . . might need to move the flock asap to clear off some areas before spring . . . .


Much to do. ANd not enough time.

Suggestions welcome.

 

[Beekissed]

Pelleted lime is a great soil additive to easily and gently correct acidic soils and it's easier to spread than the crushed. You can use a lawn seeder if you have one...I had one but found the lime was much too heavy to just load it up and start walking, so I broke that cheapy thing the first day I had it...sent it back. Now I just walk around with a bucket and a cup and toss it about like Johnny Appleseed on a mission.

The pelleted lime washes into the soils with each rain and has a longer acting effect than spreading the powdered lime. I've used it in an orchard, garden and pasture with good effect. It's cheap and easy to find. The soils here are very acidic, so I'll be doing some more of the lime again in early spring before I plant the clover.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

For soul testing, contact the local extension service. Some do free testing.

 

[Beekissed]

For soul testing, contact the local extension service. Some do free testing.

Now I'm going to laugh at your typo, LJ.....

It's just too cute to pass up laughing at...."soul testing"....I didn't know the extension office handled that but it should be interesting finding out!

They do that free in this state, for sure. They can tell you just what you need to add to your soil and also tell you specifics about the type of pasture you are wanting to build.

 

[Arielle]

I have been leary to call up my state resources, not convinced they understand my plan. I suppose teating the soil and general recommendations are pretty basic, but I know a fellow in VT had such done and then looked at the cost of the proposal to improve his land, and conswquenlty devised his own slower method that was also far cheaper.

Oddly, I don't trust the state employees.

I have spent the time sincmy last post discovering a field of study called silviopasturing, and found a good doc by cornell U. Pretty much what DH has started in the last few years: thinning out the current tree stand, and letting in the light. IT is tough work but DH enjoys it. Trees and chainsaw. THen we have been dumping horse manure from t he stalls. That seems to have it's problems and benfits. It brings along the seeds from the hay, but spreading it has its issues. Spread too thin, it just disappears beneath the ferns that growth thru it; spread thick to kill off the ferns and the layer is so thick it is mushy and doesn't decay nicely into the duff.

I'm on a big learning curve.


It is very "soul testing"

Next I need to find seeds for my area-- have looked at several sources but none with infor specific to Massachusetts; would like grasses, legume and bushes.