What would I need to do to a weedy grassy area to make it a pasture area, it is a mowed area that consists of

Question

grass, white clover, broadleaf, dandelions, etc.

Answer 1

Turn them out. they will eat what they want for now. disk it up and plant a good pasture mix in the next few weeks.

Answer 2

If you put the horses out there, sure they'll eat the weeds down eventually but the weeds will just pop back up again the next year so that isn't really helping the problem at all.

To get rid of the weeds for good you need to use a broadleaf spray (like 2, 4-d or tordon).  That should kill the weeds but not the grass.  The best time to spray is in the fall.  Then the next spring you need to seed it so that grass will grow where those weeds were previously.  Most areas have a local weed and pest office that can help you choose seed, and can help you with spraying the weeds (they help both with knowledge but also financially).

Answer 3

as long as there is no ragwart etc put them in it they'll eat it all down, Clover and dandelions are good for a horse anyway it seems ike a good mix.

Answer 4

If the broadleaf is blossoming, now is the time to kill it.  Buy a product that specifies it and spread it thoroughly.  Broadleaf is toxic.  Then, mow the entire pasture.  Get a soil sample and fertilize with whatever is recommended.

Don't disc it too much....you need the established root system to support what you seed, or it will take two years to establish enough of a root system for the new grasses to withstand hooves and rough grazing that horses do.

Buy a good pasture mix and over-seed with it, and follow instructions from the supplier on how long to wait before using the pasture.