August and September are excellent times to establish cool season grasses, as well as renovating existing grass stands. Renovate means to renew and improve. So early fall is the time to renew and improve your existing forage stands.

Start renovation by testing your soil, so that you will know exactly what your pasture needs, and apply lime and fertilizer based on test results.

Add legumes to forage mixtures to gain higher forage yields, improve the quality of grazing and increase nitrogen fixation in your soil. Many different studies over the years have shown that increased legume populations also increase weight gain.

By heavy grazing or clipping pastures now, you can reduce weed pressure, and reducing forage height results in better seed to soil contact for overseeding pastures with cool season grasses. These cool season grasses are best established in the fall to insure adequate root development before dry weather. Overseed thin spots and troublesome areas with low cool season grass populations, so that these areas will once again be productive.

Finally, add legume seed to renovated areas the following spring. Frost seeding of legumes from February 15 – March 15 works very well. The concept is that the freezing and thawing of the soil, will help incorporate the seed into the soil. By renovating pastures and hay fields in this manner producers can increase forage quality, yield, and persistence.