Overseeding Pasture

[RJR]

My father in law likes Kentucky 31 fescue for his cattle pasture and hayfields. With the recent drought the last few years there may be some thin areas that could be overseeded this spring. Is there anything that will compete with fescue that would be more beneficial to the deer herd? He is 78 and changing his mind about fescue is not an option.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Its very hard to compete with fescue. Fescue is the worst thing that has happened for wildlife in this century behind development, IMO. Not alot you can do but overseed with some clovers and hope for the best, unless you could eradicate the fescue, which I doubt a farmer would let that happen.

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . overseed with some clovers . . .

Actually, this can be quite productive.

If your pasture is cut late in the summer (or fall), you can sow a variety of clovers in the fall, and/or frost seed in the late winter or early spring.

The clover will do a lot of growing in the spring BEFORE the fescue begins rapidly growing.

Think about it:
When do the deer need some "extra" protein most?
Early spring?
I'm saying "extra" in terms of beyond what will be growing naturally in most habitats come later in spring and early summer.

Overseeding fescue with clover (provided it was cut in late summer) is an excellent way to provide an additional protein source to your deer. Of course, would be 100 times better to just kill the fescue, but . . . . .