Need Help With Horse Pastures! - Ask Extension
Three of my pastures have more thatch than grass. What is the best way to remove the thatch?
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Need Help With Horse Pastures! #753475
Asked June 02, 2021, 10:47 AM EDT
Three of my pastures have more thatch than grass. What is the best way to remove the thatch?
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
The main problem is that the pasture grass is very tall (10-12 inches now). Mowing it is what has caused all the thatch. I have an IR mare so my horses don't graze until mid-June and then only for 4 hours. I have to mow a lot to keep the seed heads off because they are full of sugar.
A pasture harrow is the best tool to use to "pull" up dead material in a pasture. There are a few sizes available but it basically is like a heavy metal chain link with spikes to rip up the dead plant material. The bulk of plant sugar is in the lower 3-4 inches of the plant.
Thank you very much. I was worried that a harrow would dig too deeply into the dirt and rip the growing grass out. I will try using a harrow and see what happens.
On Jun 3, 2021, at 9:53 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
