Can I turn my lawn into hay with out farm equipment? - Page 2

Cole_Robbie · June 7, 2016

In my area, hay is the native fescue grass. If I let my lawn grow, it will eventually be the same stuff in the hay field.

Alfalfa is a farmed crop. It is a luxury food for horses, which are a luxury for rich people, which is good because alfalfa hay is very expensive.

If you grow alfalfa, be prepared for the field to look like a Disney movie about woodland creatures. It's so nutritious that you will draw animals you didn't even know you had.

Father'sDaughter · June 8, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSalvage

So what kind of seed would overtake the lawn?

Dandelions 😄😄

Shapshftr · June 16, 2016

I don't see why you couldn't plant alfalfa that way. I live in farm country and the seeds from the farmers alfalfa blow into my yard and sprout. Also it is a very fast growing plant and will quickly overcome the grass and kill it, unless you keep it mowed. And if you don't keep it mowed and let it go to seed, you will have alfalfa growing everywhere. Farmers weed kill then till and plant it just to get a good heavy weed free stand of hay.

Susan66 · June 20, 2016

You might try clover, too. Doesn't grow as tall as grass, and little animals love it. My Dad planted white clover as a trap crop for rabbits and woodchucks so they would leave the garden alone. It mostly worked. After he passed, we just let go of mowing the 10 or so acres he maintained. My sister and I will not mow that much. In 5 years much of the former lawn has self seeded into Joe Pye-weed, goldenrod, and asters. In the one section my nephew mows ( maybe twice a year with the tractor and finish mower) it's still hay. Even the wildflower meadows, they recommend mowing at least once a year. Otherwise, in a pretty short time here it will all go back to forest.
Susan

Worth1 · June 20, 2016

Some clovers get frigging huge.

Has anyone seen yuchi arrow leaf clover/
I was raised around it.

Susan66 · June 20, 2016

Doesn't everthing get huge in Texas?

June 7, 2016	#16
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	In my area, hay is the native fescue grass. If I let my lawn grow, it will eventually be the same stuff in the hay field. Alfalfa is a farmed crop. It is a luxury food for horses, which are a luxury for rich people, which is good because alfalfa hay is very expensive. If you grow alfalfa, be prepared for the field to look like a Disney movie about woodland creatures. It's so nutritious that you will draw animals you didn't even know you had.

June 16, 2016	#18
Shapshftr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Illinois Posts: 162	I don't see why you couldn't plant alfalfa that way. I live in farm country and the seeds from the farmers alfalfa blow into my yard and sprout. Also it is a very fast growing plant and will quickly overcome the grass and kill it, unless you keep it mowed. And if you don't keep it mowed and let it go to seed, you will have alfalfa growing everywhere. Farmers weed kill then till and plant it just to get a good heavy weed free stand of hay.

June 20, 2016	#19
Susan66 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Western NY Posts: 133	You might try clover, too. Doesn't grow as tall as grass, and little animals love it. My Dad planted white clover as a trap crop for rabbits and woodchucks so they would leave the garden alone. It mostly worked. After he passed, we just let go of mowing the 10 or so acres he maintained. My sister and I will not mow that much. In 5 years much of the former lawn has self seeded into Joe Pye-weed, goldenrod, and asters. In the one section my nephew mows ( maybe twice a year with the tractor and finish mower) it's still hay. Even the wildflower meadows, they recommend mowing at least once a year. Otherwise, in a pretty short time here it will all go back to forest. Susan

June 20, 2016	#20
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Some clovers get frigging huge. Has anyone seen yuchi arrow leaf clover/ I was raised around it.