February Is Frost Seeding Month

If your pastures are showing signs of wear and tear, patches of open ground, more weeds than grass, overgrazing last fall or mud damage this winter, it’s time to rehab them with frost seeding. Frost seeding is an inexpensive and easy way to rejuvenate overgrazed or weather-damaged livestock pastures and hayfields without tilling or disturbing already established grasses and legumes.

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As the soil freezes and thaws, seeds are “drilled” into the ground — nature's way of no-till seeding. All you need is winter days with daytime temps above freezing and night time temps below freezing. You also need seed, of course, and a means to broadcast it.

Small pastures of less than 5 acres can be seeded with a hand-cranked seeder. The seeders broadcast the seed in 6- to 12-foot widths depending on the seeder and the seed. Hand-cranked broadcast seeders come in several sizes. Inexpensive shoulder-strapped bag or a bigger backpack types have a capacity of 25 to 60 pounds of seed. It’s a perfect method for keeping small pastures and paddocks in tiptop shape to nourish your valuable livestock.

If your pastures are 5 acres or more, invest in a broadcast seeder that can attach to an ATV or tractor.

SEED SELECTION