Horse Pasture Renovation

seedbed which dries out quickly. It is also very difficult to get good seed placement in a loose seedbed resulting in poor and uneven germination. A firm seedbed is one in which your footprints are less than a halfinch 12 5 mm deep.
Seeding
Once the seedbed has been prepared and fertilizer has been applied you are ready to seed. The preferred method of seeding pasture varieties is with a packerseeder such as Brillion seeder. Seed drills with a grassseed attachment set to a shallow depth of approximately a halfinch 12 5 mm are also suitable. If you do not have access to either of these types of seeders seed can be broadcast with either a hand powered or machine powered broadcaster. Best results from broadcasting are obtained by seeding one half of the seed in one pass and then broadcasting the remaining seed at right angles to the first pass. After broadcast seeding it is important to lightly cover the seed i e. by dragging a chain followed by rolling to pack the surface to ensure good seed to soil contact.
NoTill Seeding
If the above process of tillage and seeding appears to require more labour and machinery than you have available there may be another option. This is notill seeding which requires a specialized seed drill that can penetrate existing vegetation and place the seed and pack all in one operation. In order to achieve satisfactory results any existing vegetation needs to be killed with a herbicide two to four weeks prior to seeding. This option of pasture renovation may be available to you if there are custom operators in your area.
PostSeeding Management
After you have gone to the work and expense of renovating your pasture you will want to manage it carefully after seeding to ensure you obtain a strong vigorous stand. You will probably require some postseeding weed control. Little or no grazing should take place on a new seeding for at least two months after seeding. If you are in a dryland area with no irrigation the seeding should not be grazed at all the first year to allow the plants time to become well established. The first grazing should be done only when the ground is dry and firm to prevent deep hoof prints and grazing should be moderate leaving at least three inches 75 mm of stubble. Overgrazing in the year of seeding is one of the main causes of seeding failure. Patience in the first year will improve your chances of establishing a vigorous longlasting pasture.
This article was originally prepared by Ted Moore BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food and is reprinted with kind permission from Horse Council BC.