Native Grass Pasture in East Texas?

[Macarino]

Hi there,

So I am really interested in planting my brand new pasture in a native seed mix with an organic program.

The main seeds are eastern gamagrass and indian grass with this blend:

Big Bluestem
Eastern Gamagrass
Broomsedge Bluestem
Indiangrass
Little Bluestem
Prairie Wildrye
Virginia Wildrye
Sideoats Grama
Switchgrass
Purpletop
Sand Dropseed
Sand Lovegrass
Hooded Windmill Grass
Gulf Coast Muhly

Anyone have experience with native grass pastures in east texas? The soil was recently cleared from pine trees and hasn’t had any grass on it. It is about a 6 acre area.

Thanks!

[clanter]

have you heard of the “Noble Consultation Program”… it is a free program to help improve pastures… they cover some on northeastern Texas

http://www.noble.org/ag/cooperators/

when I was looking for a source for pasture seed another poster on this board recommended natures fine seed … I will see this spring how their seed does (also bought some of their wild flower seeds)

http://www.naturesfinestseed.com/pasture-seed

[crosscreeksh]

We are in NE Oklahoma, but have mixed native grasses along with areas of Bermuda. Our horses LOVE it and the hay that we make from it!! We moved here from NC where everything was “Coastal Bermuda” we had quite a few colics in “certain” horses on pure Coastal (there are different varieties of Bermuda) and since moving to this mixed grasses area we have had about 3 colics in almost 11 years!! I recommend it. We are going to be moving to the same area you are speaking of and we plan to stay with the native grasses for hay and pasture. What town are you thinking of in Texas??

[Macarino]

Hi Crosscreek

The place is near Conroe Texas

I won’t have horses on it for a year or two, so I think I might have the natives established and then add in Bahia after…

[Macarino]

Which native species do you have? Do you rotate? If so how often?

[Guilherme]

Have you spoken with your County Extension Agent or other local people with expertise in local plants? Ten seconds on Google found this http://npsot.org/wp/houston/

COTH can be a good source of information. A better source for YOUR peculiar location might those with specific local experience and expertise.

Good luck in your program.

G.

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=Macarino;8514778]
Which native species do you have? Do you rotate? If so how often?[/QUOTE]

I don’t even know which specific grasses we have…locals just call it “mixed native grasses”. We have 80 acres and 20 horses. Moved here 11 years ago and spray for weeds, but have never fertilized except for spreading our horse’s manure. We hay our own land and graze year round and STILL have to brush hog 1-2x a year.

Research Bahia carefully!! I know some people love it…we HATE it. Horses don’t seem to care, but it is invasive and will absolutely ruin your mowing equipment…IMO!!

[Cindyg]

My horses love Bahia (and I’m in Texas).

Also, might be worth a trip to Justin Seed.

[SusanO]

My horses do not consider Bahia hay a food source. It is grown a lot in Alabama but I gave up trying to get them to eat it instead of peeing on it. I think the lignin? content gets pretty high quickly and then it can cause impactions. I do have some in the pasture. My horses love the seed heads but I rarely see them eat the grass.

[Jarpur]

I’ve bought seed from these people several times, and they’ve been helpful with phone consultation: https://www.turnerseed.com/grass-seed-mixes.html

[Macarino]

Thank you all so much. I spoke to the knowledgeable native seed and organic person for my area who says it takes longer to establish this stand but if I have time (which I do) it’s worth it in the long run.