How do I plant grasses in my pasture or rangeland?
If you currently have a pasture or rangeland in poor condition, before thinking about replanting first consider invigorating your land by following the grazing management guidelines. The average cost for reseeding is $200-$400 per acre so it pays to adjust management practices first. If you are committed to reseeding a dryland pasture, these are a few steps you can take to have a more successful grass establishment. Keep in mind that reseeding dryland pastures especially with native grasses, may take a few seasons before you are successful and will depend on the weather conditions of that year.
- Weed Control: For your grass seeding to be successful, existing vegetation (including weeds, competitive grasses, and legumes) must be controlled. Common techniques for removing existing vegetation are herbicides or tillage. If herbicide is used, read the label to be sure it will not have any residual effects on your new grass seeding. Learn more about weed management methods.
- Fertilizer: For dryland grass seeding, fertilizer is not usually needed. For irrigated grass seeding, fertilize according to a recent soil test. Apply phosphorous (at rates according to soil test) at or before planting, but post-pone nitrogen until after grasses are established. Receiving a soil test report from a laboratory may take 4-6 weeks, so plan ahead.
- Seedbed Preparation: After controlling the weeds or existing vegetation, you can prepare the seedbed by tilling or disking. If using a no-till drill, this step is not necessary.
- Cover Crop: It is recommended that a cover crop be used on dryland areas because it can increase the success of the grass seeding. A cover crop will grow and die in one year and will shade out weeds, reduce erosion, and add organic matter to the soil. After the cover crop is dead, the residue will hold water at the soil surface while the grass seedlings are trying to grow. Sterile sorghum is great summer cover crop to use in Colorado’s dry climate, others include winter annuals like oats, wheat, and rye. If using sorghum cover crop, plant 3-6 pounds per acre of sterile sorghum after the last frost when soil temperatures are 65◦ F (generally May 15 or later). Let it grow throughout the summer. It can be mowed or harvested before planting your grass, but it is not necessary. The cover crop will die in the fall. For more information about cover crops, please read the article Cover Crops Help In Dryland Grass Establishment.
- Grass Planting: Between November 15 and April 15, use a grass drill to plant your recommended seed mixture. Plant the seeds ¼ – ½ inch deep. Rows can be 7-12”apart. If a cover crop was used, be sure to plant your grass with a no-till drill so the cover crop residue can remain on top of the ground. Contact your local conservation district to see if they have a no-till grass drill available. After seeding, water the area if possible, or hope for rain/snow. If a grass drill is not available, you can broadcast the seed, but be sure to double the recommended drill seeding rate. After broadcasting the seed, drag a harrow or chain link fence over the seedbed, or use a rake to create seed-to-soil contact. Mulch the seeded area if possible with weed-free straw and water if possible.
- Maintenance: Although you controlled weeds prior to planting, you will still need to be diligent about controlling the weeds during the first few years of grass establishment. It is important to control weeds to reduce water and nutrient competition, so the grass seedlings have the best opportunity to grow. Mow every month during each growing season for weed control, about 3-5 times a year. Set the mower to 4-6” high, no lower. Do not use herbicides for 3-5 years after planting, or until grasses are grown past the three-leaf stage, because herbicide may hurt the establishing grass seedlings. Exclude animals until grasses are well established. For irrigated areas, grasses may establish the first year. For non-irrigated areas, grasses can take 3-5 years to establish. Adequate establishment for dryland grasses is 3 plants per square foot. Be patient. Once grasses are established, continue to monitor for weeds and control them before they become a problem. Manage grazing so that animals are not allowed to overgraze.
Contact your local NRCS and CSU Extension office to determine the appropriate seed mixtures and seeding methods for your area and soil type.
Find local contractors and seed dealers on the Small Acreage Services Database.