Fall is a critical time to invest in pastures to protect them throughout the winter and ensure good grazing in the spring. Most cool-season horse pastures should be fertilized with nitrogen in the fall to boost root reserves and extend the grazing season. Other fertilizers can also be added in the fall, as directed by a soil test.

Fall Nitrogen

Nitrogen applied in the spring or summer provides a significant boost to grass growth, but many farm owners can’t use this additional growth and instead mow it down. Consider applying nitrogen in the fall to cool-season pastures. Fall nitrogen will not greatly increase grass growth, but it will boost the pasture grasses’ root reserves, allowing plants to remain greener longer into winter, survive winter better, and green up sooner in the spring. This effectively prolongs the grazing season.

Additionally, a strong spring pasture will have better cover, thereby reducing annual weeds. Apply 40 to 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre to pastures once or twice in the fall. This equates to 85 to 105 pounds per acre if using urea (46-0-0). Applications can occur anytime between September and the first hard freeze (an overnight temp of less than 20 degrees Farhenheit) and should be at least six weeks apart. You can spread nitrogen fertilizers easily using a cone seeder on the back of an ATV or a tractor. You shouldn’t have to remove horses from pastures if equipment is operating properly and not leaving large piles of pellets. Do not fertilize when grass leaves are wet, as fertilizer pellets can stick to the leaf surface and damage it.

Other Fertilizers

Unlike nitrogen, other soil amendments such as phosphorus, potassium, and lime should be applied only after a soil test. Apply only the recommended amounts, as additional inputs are expensive, do not benefit the pasture, and can run off into nearby bodies of water. While mixed fertilizer bags, such as 10-10-10 or 19-19-19 are convenient, they might not allow full fertilization of one component without overfertilizing another. Contact your local county Extension agent for soil sampling