On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 3:49:53 -0800, you wrote: > I have both so to speak: VERY lush, green grass in the Spring and fall, > then, because we're on sandy loam, well-drained soil, a dry-spell will "shut > down" my pasture for a few weeks mid-summer. I haven't done any > fertilizing of the pasture beyond regular harrowing and spreading of > composted manure as well as mowing here and there to keep the milkweed in > check.
The place I had in Dorset was sand, with summer drought, and we had the same problems. > > Our pasture was a hayfield before we moved here 17 years ago. The first > summer, I nearly lost the horses (Quarter horse and Arab) in the grass, like > your picture. Ah, but you can't see the type of grass it is - it is not lush rye grass, but mostly sedge with a thin underlayer of timothy and a lot of assorted herbs. There's no way you would make hay from it (or at least, not good hay). I believe the type of grass (and the ability of the grass to produce fructans in given conditions) makes the biggest difference. Plus the weather - our grass never shuts down as we have relatively mild winters (only a few days below freezing with snow rather rare) and cool summers thanks to the Gulf Stream, and a lot of rain thanks to being on the West coast of Wales.... ; ) Mic Mic (Michelle) Rushen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solva Icelandic Horses and DeMeulenkamp Sweet Itch Rugs: www.solva-icelandics.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes"
