Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2017 11:50:03 -0400
From: “John Dykers M.D.”
Subject: Pasture preparation recommendation
Mr. Carter,
Unless you are in a hurry, may I suggest:
assume when you say “land will be forested” you mean the trees will be cut. “graded” you mean the stumps will be bulldozed.
Maybe try cut the trees, then cut the stumps off at ground level, short enough to mow over/bush hog. Soil test. Scratch the ground with a tine harrow and broadcast fertilizer as indicated by soil test to grow fescue(old KY 31 if only for grass, pick a non “toxic” variety if adding cows and clover). Let the stumps rot out. You can maintain the 2.5 acres of “pasture” with an electric fence around it for what ever you chose to eat the grass; or just bush hog it regularly enough to keep weed control and fertilize so the fescue crowds out the weeds. Still bush hog when the fescue stems in the spring unless you want to make more seed and then bush hog. If you do put animals there to eat the grass, be sure to add facilities for removing the animals if they multiply or need to go to the vet or the stockyard. Goats are difficult to keep in; 2 or 3 mature dry cows(no calves) would be happy together and likely stay happy behind a single strand of hot wire, with good water and an occasional visit from you with a feed bucket of sweet horse feed; great pets. 2.5 acres might keep one horse well fed.
If you only want grass, the first part is easy, but be prepared to mow.
John Dykers