Lately is seems like the horses do nothing but eat, eat and eat, but the grass doesn't seem to be growing. I've contemplated planting some grass seed and keeping them off of it and hoping that will get it healthy again. Lately it seems like the only tall thing that grows in the pastures anymore is yellow clover and thistles.
In fact I just got in from cutting a garbage bag full of milk thistle! Can you believe that some people have planted these in their front yards for landscaping?! I know me neither (I've seen it in magazines). If you have a problem with these, I feel for you! Luckily I've caught most of them before it gets too bad, but if you let it get out of hand it can be almost impossible to get rid of them!
The only way I've been taught to get rid of them is go out with a shovel and garbage bag and cut them out. And the key is to get them before they get the purple flower tops on them or before the purple flowers seed because that's what causes them to spread so bad. Some breeds of thistle all you have to do is cut them and let them lay to die and that's it. These puppy's you have to cut and bag because if that purple flower stays on the ground and seeds the ground then you better plan on redoing what you just did next year!
I wasn't able to catch all of them before they seeded but at least I know there's a bag full that wont be there next year. If you live someplace that these babies don't grow... I envy you!
Another fun weed that's been over powering our pastures is the yellow clover. These things can get up to five feet tall if they want! Some years there may be only a few, and then some years, like this one, they cover the entire place... even the yard.. ughhhh!
In fact I just got in from cutting a garbage bag full of milk thistle! Can you believe that some people have planted these in their front yards for landscaping?! I know me neither (I've seen it in magazines). If you have a problem with these, I feel for you! Luckily I've caught most of them before it gets too bad, but if you let it get out of hand it can be almost impossible to get rid of them!
The only way I've been taught to get rid of them is go out with a shovel and garbage bag and cut them out. And the key is to get them before they get the purple flower tops on them or before the purple flowers seed because that's what causes them to spread so bad. Some breeds of thistle all you have to do is cut them and let them lay to die and that's it. These puppy's you have to cut and bag because if that purple flower stays on the ground and seeds the ground then you better plan on redoing what you just did next year!
I wasn't able to catch all of them before they seeded but at least I know there's a bag full that wont be there next year. If you live someplace that these babies don't grow... I envy you!
Another fun weed that's been over powering our pastures is the yellow clover. These things can get up to five feet tall if they want! Some years there may be only a few, and then some years, like this one, they cover the entire place... even the yard.. ughhhh!
Yellow clover, yellow clover.... yellow clover. This stuff may seem like it would be a pretty wild flower like plant but they suck. Last year there were only a few patches of them and we thought we should get it cut out and get rid of it but we left it. Turns out this year they have literally covered the entire place! I've tried finding online how to get rid of them and about the only thing I read that said would be successful is to mow them off and then spray everything. Our goal is to rent a skid steer soon and get everything shredded of and then try to get it all sprayed to help prevent it next year.
I also read that people plant yellow clover on purpose! Why are so many people wanting to plant such terrible weeds?! It did say that cows love eating them. I considered buying a couple calves just to help eat the closer... hahaha can you believe that? Our land used to have cows run on it before we put a house up here and made it home. When we looked at the land to by it, it was like a prairie view from a movie. Perfect grass with bits of alfalfa growing in it and hardly any weeds. Now... well now it's not as pretty.
If you have any recommendations on how to handle these beasts in a better way please let me know! It would be greatly appreciated! Have you had any pasture trouble too? I'd love to hear from you and your advice.
Hopefully in the next year or so we can get our pastures back to the picturesque prairie that it was!
Happy Trails to you!
I also read that people plant yellow clover on purpose! Why are so many people wanting to plant such terrible weeds?! It did say that cows love eating them. I considered buying a couple calves just to help eat the closer... hahaha can you believe that? Our land used to have cows run on it before we put a house up here and made it home. When we looked at the land to by it, it was like a prairie view from a movie. Perfect grass with bits of alfalfa growing in it and hardly any weeds. Now... well now it's not as pretty.
If you have any recommendations on how to handle these beasts in a better way please let me know! It would be greatly appreciated! Have you had any pasture trouble too? I'd love to hear from you and your advice.
Hopefully in the next year or so we can get our pastures back to the picturesque prairie that it was!
Happy Trails to you!