There’s nothing better than a well-maintained horse pasture. But sometimes, despite your attentive maintenance, weeds can take hold and threaten to take over a paddock. If you’re battling weeds in your horse pasture, these tips can help you to get them back under control.

Identify

Before you set about removing or destroying weeds in your horse’s pasture, take some time to identify the weeds first. Make sure that none of the weeds are toxic to horses, and if they are, then remove the horses from the pasture immediately and intensely treat the land to rid it of those plants. If you find toxic weeds, check with your local department of agriculture for guidance on the best removal method.

Use Herbicides

Herbicides can be an effective method in removing weeds. Before you apply an herbicide, make sure that horses can safely ingest the product that you will be using. Hand-sprayed herbicides can be ideal for treating small areas, while larger pastures can require more significant treatment. To be safe, keep the horses out of the paddock while it is being treated.

Mow Your Pastures

Mowing your pastures can help to prevent weed growth. If you mow your paddocks, you will be reducing the height of existing weeds and giving the grasses additional access to sunlight, which the weeds could otherwise block out. Remember to mow your pastures regularly, especially if you will be mowing as a weed management measure.

If you have weeds that are condensed in a smaller area, then hand-pulling the weeds may be a more effective method than mowing. By hand-pulling weeds you will be removing the entire plant, slowing or halting its growth. Hand-pulling is a method best used as soon as you notice weeds appearing in the pasture, not once they have taken hold and spread over a wide area.

Reseed Your Pastures

Reseeding your pasture can help to improve the population of nutritious grasses. Reseeding can be a good option if your pastures are looking run-down, but also remember to rotate your horses off of the land to give it a chance to recover from intensive grazing.

Frost seeding your pastures can be an effective way to revitalize and replenish your pastures with the grasses that you want to be present. Frost seeding is best performed in February or March, and it requires minimal labor, relying on the thawing and freezing of the ground to drive the seeds down to take root.

When it comes to managing weeds, acting quickly before they really take hold can help to keep them under control. Stay on top of the issue and you will be rewarded with a quality pasture with minimal weeds.

Photo source: http://www.ingimage.com/imagedetails/54347383_extInt0/ISS_5169_0197...