Harrowing My Pasture

[deenamr]

My pasture renter was late putting his animals in last year resulting in my pasture being overgrown in some areas. I need to know if I should burn it first so the grass is all short before I harrow it or should I have it harrowed first so the grass isn't all standing tall when I burn it. Advice would be appreciated. I am very concerned about burning because the pasture is very tall and bordered by very pitchy pine trees and I am so afraid of having the fire spread to them.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Deena

 

[DonnaBelle]

Hi Deena,
I can tell you that weather condtions will be very important should you decide to burn off your pasture. Burning is good, about every 3 years. You must take several condtions into mind. Like humidity, and WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED.

I live just south of the TallGrass Prairie in Oklahoma. We burned off all our ranch last year.

My husband has plowed up a 30 ft. wide "fire lane" all around our ranch. He usually calls the local fire dept to let them know he is burning off the ranch.

THE BIG CONCERN IS THAT IT CAN GET AWAY FROM YOU AND BURN OUT THE NEIGHBORS.

My husband sets "backfires" that burn in the direction the wind is blowing to the "fire lane". That gives an extra wide area of "fire free zone."

So, having said all that, it really makes the pasture grow the following year. Here the best time to burn is late February or Early March. Burning also kills a lot of "sprouts" and cedar trees.

I don't know where you live, but do check with the fire dept before you burn, a lot of time they will come out and help you, just for the practice of "burn control".

DonnaBelle

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

We burn rice ground every year before we plant again. We have to call to see if it's a burn day and we have a permanent permit to do so. I don't do it myself but my DH and FIL do it. They light a few spots in a row and as that row is burning they are on ATV's to control it and guide the flame. Another important point: they have sprayers on the back of their ATV's so they can put out the flames if it gets too close to the road or the blackberry bushes. Blackberry brambles=most and darkest smoke you've ever seen. Anyway, I don't know if you should harrow first or burn first, just a suggestion for burning. Keep water close at hand. When DH burns, they drive back and forth to the house a lot to refill the water tanks, but only one person at a time. HTH