Time is counting down with only 45 to 75 days until ideal Tall Fescue planting time depending on where you are in the fescue belt. Plan on seeding September 1-15 in the northern and mountain areas to as late as October 1-15 in the southern most regions. See state specific guidelines on the Alliance for Grasslands Renewal website for more details. Walk fields to be renovated and scout for weeds. Are there problem weeds that might need an herbicide treatment in additional to glyphosate? An example would be in areas where horsenettle is present as it is very resistant to glyphosate. Consider using a broadleaf herbicide effective on this weed (and/or other target weeds) and apply at least 45 days before you plan to plant the tall fescue. The Spray-Wait-Spray-Plant renovation plan needs to be sprayed with the first application of glyphosate 45 days before planting, which is August 1 for an expected planting date of September 15.
Order your seed now if you haven’t already. The variety you choose is likely not available on store shelves, so talk to your seed dealer to make sure they have your seed when you need it. Make sure you get the variety you order and check to make sure that the bags carry the Alliance for Grassland Renewal logo, indicating it has passed rigorous testing for seed quality and endophyte viability. Don’t get talked into planting an endophyte-free tall fescue if you need stands that last more than a few years. If the store does not have your seed when you need it, wait! Waiting a few weeks is better than planting endophyte-free or toxic KY-31 Tall Fescue.
Schedule a drill if you must use a rental unit, or do needed maintenance if you own your own drill. If you plan to broadcast seed then make sure your spreader is in good shape, and that you are using some level of tillage to get good seed/soil contact.
If you wish you had prepared for renovation earlier in the year but missed a critical step go ahead and plan on spraying fescue stands with glyphosate in late summer, and after it dies down drill in a small grain like rye, oats or wheat (or other cool season annual) for winter grazing. Follow with a summer annual next year and you will be on schedule to plant novel endophyte tall fescue pastures in the Fall of 2024. Ask your extension agent or other advisor for help, and attend a workshop during the coming year to learn all you can about Tall Fescue Pasture Renovation.
~ Matt Poore, NC State and Alliance for Grassland Renewal chair
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal is a national organization focused on enhancing the appropriate adoption of novel endophyte tall fescue technology through education, incentives, self-regulation and promotion. For more resources or to learn more about the Alliance for Grassland Renewal, go to www.grasslandrenewal.org
The Alliance for Grassland Renewal 