Chute N the Bull

The spring and summer months are critical to the fertility program for
the growth of turfgrass. If you have not fertilized the lawn around your
home, shame on you! How can you expect the turfgrass to hold up during
the summer months, much less the winter months? A weak stand of
turfgrass is an opportunity for a weed community to take over. An
example of this situation is weed seeds germinating in weak stands of
turfgrass; a better example is weeds growing on bare ground. A strong
stand of turfgrass will prevent the weed seeds from germinating
properly. It is the time of year to take advantage of the rainy season
for those warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, St. Augustine,
Zoysiagrass, etc.
Bermudagrass is a commonly used turfgrass in Oklahoma and Texas for
residential and commercial lawns because it has good wear and drought
resistance and responds positively to nitrogen fertility practices in
the spring.
In mid-April to May, the soil temperature begins to rise above 55
degrees F and bermudagrasses begins to break winter dormancy. We can
efficiently use the rainfall we receive during the next 60 days to
rejuvenate the turfgrasses in the lawn, if we properly fertilize.
General fertilizer recommendations are as follows: 1 pound of nitrogen
per 1,000 square feet four to five times during the growing season from
mid-April to September. This can be accomplished by spreading a balanced
fertilizer such as one with an N-P-K ratio of 15-5-10 at the rate of 6
pounds per 1,000 square feet.
If the fertilizer is spread, the mower better be ready and blades better
be sharp. The end of the blade (1 ½-inch tip of the mower blade) does
the largest amount of the cutting action. This part of the blade must be
kept sharp during mowing. It means the difference between slicing the
blade of grass as opposed to whacking it off. This damage to the end of
the leaf blade can be unsightly and is a point of entry for diseases,
which can be the start of the decline of the plant community. When
mowing, it is important not to remove more than two-thirds of the leaf
blade at one time. Instead, take the cutting height down a level in
multiple passes.
Timely application of a fertility program and proper mowing will allow
turfgrass to stand out and be enjoyed by your family and guests. You can
find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.com for
your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of
socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national
origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperatings
serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex,
religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners
Courts of Texas Cooperating.



Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax

Chute N The Bull

Precipitation drives pasture improvement, so if you improve the condition of your pastures and rangelands when it does rain, it will help you get through those times when it doesn't. One method of pasture improvement is to provide growing season rest.
Rotational grazing is a method to provide growing season rest. Put all your cattle in one pasture while you allow other pastures to rest and accumulate forage. How quickly you rotate through your pastures depends on the growth rate and type of grass. If your grass is in a rapid growth phase, then you would rotate rapidly with a goal to use each pasture once in a 30-day period. As the growth rate slows, so do your rotations. During a slow growth period for an introduced, sod-forming grass like bermudagrass, a common approach is to move through each pasture in a 60-day cycle. Native grasses will need a longer rest period during the slow growth phase. The more pastures you have, the less time you will spend in each, which subsequently allows you to rest each pasture more.
Key Points to Consider:
1. If your stocking rate is too high, any grazing system is doomed to fail.

2. Grazing rotations based on calendar dates are only guidelines. You need to be able to look at your pasture (grass) and determine when it is time to move. A minimum stubble height of 3 inches for an introduced, sod-forming grass like bermudagrass is a signal that it is time to move cattle. On native bunchgrasses, try to leave at least a 6-inch stubble height. The height of the grass when you leave the pasture is more important than the height of the grass when you came into the pasture. Leaving adequate stubble height ensures rapid regrowth when environmental conditions allow.

3. Pasture improvement is realized by allowing forages to accumulate top growth, which helps them maintain a healthy root system. During periods when grasses are no longer growing (drought, winter), you have to "ration" grass that you have been able to stockpile through rotational grazing. Dormant season grazing cycles typically last about 90 days. Rest during a drought or winter (when warm-season plants are not actively growing) does not contribute to pasture improvement, but that doesn't mean that you throw open all the gates!
4. Growing season rest is most important to native warm-season grasses (big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass, etc.). However, introduced, warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, plains bluestem, etc.) can also benefit from rotational grazing and the inherent rest this system provides. If you are unhappy with the condition of your native or introduced pastures, incorporate some rest into the growing season to allow the vigor of your grasses and, in turn, your pasture quality to improve.

5. There are "agnostics" who will tell you that you aren't gaining anything in terms of livestock production or pasture improvement by rotational grazing. For every one of them, there are a hundred who are reaping the rewards. Your cattle will have to adjust to more frequent moves when you begin, but don't let them be your master! They will adjust, although it may take two or three years. The long-term benefits far outweigh the initial challenges. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperatings serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.



Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax