[Jacob-list] Suggestions for top seeding meadows

[Linda]

We have a 25 horse Mahindra 4wd, but there are spots too steep for the tractor - and we don't have alot of attachments for it. I've had good luck with broadcasting seed by hand. One way is to toss the seed and then shake some fresh hay over it. The sheep will come and eat the hay and trample some of the seed in and the leftover hay helps to cover and hold the seed. For fine seeds, I mix the seeds with some bagged compost and toss that. The compost keeps me from dumping a glump of seed in one spot and does help cover and hold the seed. Around here (north Georgia), the only seed I've tried frost seeding is clover and that's done well.
I do seed annual ryegrass all year long, but, as Neal says it doesn't do well this time of year. But, it works great on some of our steep banks. It sprouts in about three minutes (maybe slightly longer), helps to hold the "good" seed in place, and then dies out.

Linda

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We have several meadows for our sheep - probably totaling not over 6 acres.  We have bare spots and need to top seed and we thought we would just take advantage of the freeze/thaw situation here in southeast PA and scatter the seed in early Spring - like soon (well, after this current blizzard is over!)   Then I spoke with the seed distributor who told me that grass seed really doesn't do well in this application, that it is too light, will just blow away and won't germinate - that we should drill it in.  However, we are hobby shepherds - we have a 20 horse Kubota tractor, no drill, no cultipacker, etc.  So, can anyone on the list give me suggestions of how we can top seed - please don't suggest a landscaper to do the job because the cost would be prohibitive - it would be more economical to just let the bare spots and buy hay!!
 
Thanks......you guys always are so helpful.
 
Sue Martin
Stonecroft   
http://www.patchworkfibers.com
 Registered Jacob Sheep, Handspun Yarn  

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