2000-03-13_REVISION - M1994053 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• �xh b + 5 Pace. 8 excessive soil mixing would bury too many grass seed beyond the optimum germinating zone. On steep slopes where crimping is not possible, jute matting (biodegradable mesh) may be used as a mulch over the newly seeded area. FERTILIZATION: At this point, the addition of nitrogen fertilizer to spring or late summer grass seedings should be done in the second year due to the uncertainty of adequate rainfall during the seeding and establishment periods. Test plots comparing initial nitrogen fertilization vs fertilization the second year for spring and/or late summer grass seedings are tentatively scheduled for the coming year. Dormant grass seedings could be fertilized at time of seeding or the following spring. Research results from high meadow pastures in Colorado shows that the ammonium nitrate formulation is more stable than the urea formulation. A soil test should be conducted to determine the level of fertilization needed. If the soil test results for nitrate nitrogen are 0-10, 11-20, or >20 ppm, then it would require 40, 20 or 10 pounds of available nitrogen per acre, respectively. If organic mulch is used, additional nitrogen will be required since the mulch can tie up some of the available nitrogen. If the soil test results for phosphorus are 0-3, 4-7, or >7 ppm, then it would require 60, 30, or 0 pounds of phosphorus per acre, respectively, when using the ammonium bicarbonate-DTPA extraction method. Colorado soils are generally high in potassium and no additional potassium is needed. WEED CONTROL: Noxious and perennial weeds should be controlled from the beginning due to preventing desirable grass species from establishing or surviving and preventing noxious weeds from further spread. The weeds to be controlled should be properly identified then the proper control measure can be recommended. Contact the local Cooperative Extension office for specific weed control programs. Light populations of annual weeds could actually be a benefit initially by stabilizing the soil until the grass becomes established. Light populations of annual weeds would not need to be controlled until the second season or the grass became established, whichever comes first. Weeds do compete with the newly seeded grass for moisture, light, and nutrients. Therefore, heavy populations of annual weeds would need some control measures initially for the newly seeded grass to become established. Each individual site would need to be evaluated to determine when annual weed control was needed.