Haying Big blue

reddog

reddog

Well-known member
I have a stand of Big Blue, Indian and some Switch. It is an established stand and is pretty much weed free after 6 years.. I want to introduce form forbs into the stand, and would like to hay it for a winter sewing project..

It is not headed out yet, but is starting to set seed pods.

When would be a good time to hay it to facilitate what I want to do. . Im not selling the hay, so IM not interested in whats the best timing for the highest quality hay.
 
If it has truely closed up and crowded out the forbs, it might be that you need to be a bit stressful on the grass to make room for the forbs. That means a late cutting followed by the sowing. Another option would be a July or August burn. That would favor the forbs and also improve the seed to soil contact when planting. Getting the seed down through the thatch will be difficult if there is 6 or more years of growth built up. Often, the plan includes a light disking and planting the forbs into the disked strip. With the price on the native forbs, you want to have the highest success possible.
 
Hay it right now. After seed head formation the digestibility declines rapidly.

Fall burn could also be an option.
 
Thanks. I think I'm going to cut it next week.. Sow in the winter and possibly burn in the spring.l
 
I wouldn't burn next spring. Those new forbs need to get established before they will tolerate fire. If you're going to burn, it ought to be before seeding. Those new sprouts next spring will be too susceptible to everything.
 
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Would they even be sprouted with a winter /frost sowing? Or does fire potentially damage the seed?
 
Some may sprout very early. Best to wait a year if you can't do it in the summer or fall this year.
 
Yes. When you cut, consider the regrowth. The plant needs leaf left in order to regrow it's top. If cut short, it will have to use root mass to regenerate top growth. That weakens the plant and cropping it again before it recovers will only increase the stress. Cutting between July 1-20 here allows sufficient time for the plants to regrow top and then store reserves in the roots before dormancy so the plant can start the following year strong. The summer or fall burn will weaken the plant some. You need to plan in a rest period to allow those plants to restore what they have lost. The goal with the late burn is to weaken the established plants enough so that the new seedlings have a better chance to sprout and grow to a point that they are not shaded out by the established plants.
 
Thanks Troy ! I've been anxiously following a native prairie experiment here where pale purple coneflowers were drilled into an established field of mowed smooth brome. The only thing that has been done with the brome has been fire. They are learning that fire damages the brome to a point where it won't produce a seedhead if burned late enough . After 4years, they have a very nice stand of ppc, using the smooth brome as a "cover"crop, and no chemicals. As we all know, brome is a very good grass for what it does, but it will take over a native stand if left unchecked...I'm on vacation for a week but will call the guy and tell him to leave some plant. How much? 8 inches? 12?
 
My guy said he had the "feet"of his swather set in the highest hole to leave as much plant as he could. I'm on vacation, so it should look considerably different when I get home.
 
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