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 of the tall fescue belt to as late as October 1-15 in the southern 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 or white clover are present as they are very resistant to glyphosate. Consider using a broadleaf herbicide effective on the weeds you see and apply at least 45 days before you plan to plant the tall fescue.
Areas renovated with the Spray-Wait-Spray-Plant system need 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 receive the variety you order and check to make sure that the bags carry the Alliance for Grassland Renewal seal, indicating it has passed rigorous testing for seed quality and endophyte viability.
If the supplier 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. Don’t get talked into planting an endophyte-free tall fescue if you need stands that last more than a few years. Don’t get talked into planting KY-31 just because the seed is there on the shelf for you to buy.
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 KY31 fescue stands with glyphosate in late summer anyway, and after it dies down drill in a small grain like rye, oats or wheat (or other cool season annual) for winter grazing. Don’t se ryegrass as volunteer seedlings will give you problems. Follow with a summer annual next year and you will be on schedule to plant novel endophyte tall fescue pastures in the Fall of 2025. 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 for the Alliance for Grassland Renewal
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 