Maintain adequate leaf material in your pasture plants to not stress them to the point they die, which is when opportunistic weeds will take their place. In other words, don’t overgraze, said Kness. | Photo: iStock

Weed management in horse pastures is a constant process. It requires time, dedication, and ongoing effort from farm owners, but it’s crucial for promoting healthy forage for horses to eat.

To help property managers combat pasture weeds, Andy Kness, MS, agriculture educator for Harford County, Maryland, provided weed control tips during the University of Maryland Extension’s healthy horse-keeping webinar series.

The No. 1 rule to remember, he said, is a dense, healthy forage stand will naturally outcompete weeds. Your weed management program, however, “requires a comprehensive integrated approach,” he said. “No one single tool is going to do it for