An experiment

[grassfarmer]

Some around here establish pasture/hay about mid August.....get it established enough to handle winter, then take off next spring....also, have seeded late September, so ready to grow next spring....

I don't have any experience of seeding later in the year. I think with the legumes like alfalfa and sweet clover especially if you want them to build that strong tap root reserve for them to over winter they should be seeded earlier. When you say late September do you mean for it to lie ungerminated over winter? September seems awful early for that - first week of November would be safer. When we get into these alternate seeding systems we have to be careful - sweet clover seed for example is usually scarified when you buy it so might rot if it sits wet for a period before it germinates. It it wasn't for that risk I'd broadcast spread it in the fall and not bother harrowing it in as the snow/frost/thaw would work it in.

[WiltonRanch]

I don't have any experience of seeding later in the year. I think with the legumes like alfalfa and sweet clover especially if you want them to build that strong tap root reserve for them to over winter they should be seeded earlier. When you say late September do you mean for it to lie ungerminated over winter? September seems awful early for that - first week of November would be safer. When we get into these alternate seeding systems we have to be careful - sweet clover seed for example is usually scarified when you buy it so might rot if it sits wet for a period before it germinates. It it wasn't for that risk I'd broadcast spread it in the fall and not bother harrowing it in as the snow/frost/thaw would work it in.

There's an experiment grass. Fall dormant seeding works if it don't rot in the meantime.

[perfecho]

Yes...the late Sept seeding was for dormancy and sprouting into spring.....I had done it later one year, but the ground got wet with snow and proved to be a problem with seeds sticking to brillion seeder....the part I did earlier, germinated nicely in spring. Know some commercial landscapers and vegetation people who really like seeding in August, but likely mostly grasses. I have maintained that one should leave for holidays early September because it is usually wet....... so would help with grasses. Timing is a bit crucial...either establish well or make sure doesn't germinate. I usually don't have my sheet together to establish in spring..and we have had some dry springs. Likely spring seeding would be best most years.