Off Topic: Pasture

Live in between OKC and Tulsa, have 120 acres of pasture land. Bought 1 year ago. Pretty bad shape, has sparse little blue/indian/silverleaf/bermuda, and lots of weeds.

I was thinking about spraying weed killer and seeding with rye grass this fall, then in spring concentrating on trying to get bermuda to take over.

Recommendations on type of weed killer, method of seeding, fertilization this summer and fall. Then, how to get bermuda to take over in spring.

Thanks for any suggestions.

More than likely you have weeds instead of grass due to low fertility, I would get soil samples first and then mow the weeds then spend the seed and spray money on fertilizer and lime. In pasture land, lush grass growth is the best weed killer.

I'll second what LAA says. In addition, pastures, in order to be as productive as possible, should be "topped" or mowed, annually, to keep weeds from going to seed and make the good grasses keep putting up leaf instead of seed stems. when I was a kid the neighbor used to send his son out to do it with the 8N with belly mount sickle bar. the kid used to run along at about fifteen MPH clipping those weeds.

I did have soil test. P and K are good, nitrogen is needed at 80#/acre. From what I understand nitrogen won't do much for the native grasses.

So do you think if I mow and apply nitrogen it will help the sparse bermuda spread over time? Take a couple years?

We had a grass fire back in November that burned everything. This spring I did brush hog the weeds again. However the pasture is over run with ragweed and woody type weeds.

you can spray the broadleaf weeds with 2-4-d but i think your biggest problem is with the competing
grasses...bermuda will do better with fertilizer,but "taking over" will be a stretch...you mite be better off nuking the pasture with roundup and resprigging with a hybrid bermuda in the spring...once you get a good stand,then its easier to keep it...notice i said easier,not cheaper.

Has anyone heard of the type of mowers that put herbicide down as you mow?
It has a small stream of herbicide running down the blades to the cutting tip and as you whack the weeds off it coats the stump, thus killing the weed

I would go to the nearest extension office as they know the area and what is best and where to buy. We dont know your soil structure and how fertile it mite be and what is the annual rainfall. those things are pretty important.

Always follow the label, but there are several herbicides that are used to "release" bermuda, at least in the South. The active ingredients imazapic and metsulfuron methyl come to mind. "Milestone" is a superior broadleaf herbicide that you could tank mix with. I have personally turned many a railroad grade-crossing or highway right-of-way from weeds and junk grass to 100% bermuda that you could cut hay from. Soil tests and proper fertility will enable the bermuda to perform best in a pasture setting.

Best of luck!

Just a few things,right now until middle of august is the best time to kill weeds by mowing in our area.(i'm just south of okc).Most have not fully developed seeds yet,and are stressed from the heat,if your going to mow nows the time.Wont hurt grass,if you dont mow it really short,because most of its dormant anyway.Weeds have a very small stem,bushing out on top with small yellow flowers?probably broom weed if it does.Its prevelant after fire or is a sure sign of overgrazing.Good thing is its a annual weed and you can get rid of it by mowing or spraying pretty easily. Would suggest spraying,its cheaper in the long run than mowing,grazon next about a pint to the acre is what i use,and it works good.After you get weeds under control,go in with a heavy disc,set fairly straight and pull it over field.fertilize good and then take a broadcast spreader and scatter your seed.dont try to drag it and cover seeds just sow seeds before a rain and run a heavy packer over it .I personally wouldnt use perenial rye,its very hard to get rid of and cattle dont eat it very well if theres anything else.I use a mix of bluestem ,side oats ,and buffalo grass,and clover for pastures.(always add clover ,it will come out earlier than grasses lots of times and it can give you some early grazing that will save you once in a while.lots of folks sow oats also to have some fast grazing until grass estabilshes.But you probably have a lot more rain than i do.be best to check around as to what other guys are doing right around you.thing is take care of your weeds first!untill you get them under control anytime you fertilize,you feed them,and if you go in mechanically and try to renovate you just spread seeds.cant really say without knowing your area or your farm,but what i would do is mow now till end of august,to knock weeds back and let grass get a chance to use fall rains.hit it heavy with some spray in early spring,and then mechanically till and plant early enough grass can get a leg up on weeds and have a foothold before heat really sets in.fertilize again in fall to feed it over the winter and try to graze first time late fall or early spring next. cross fence into quarters and revitalize one section at a time if you have to.good luck,i just got my mower and sprayer put back in shape to start on 500 acres in western okla that not had anything done to it in 60 years i know of.

Thanks for the recommendations.