When does grass start to grow?

[mhorses]

After today's rain my field is looking a little sorry for itself. The field has very little grass left and was just flat/Harding mud until yesterday but now it is a mushy bog. I am wondering when grass usually starts coming through and whether I should separate half of my paddock off to allow some growth for spring or will this cause laminitis or colic to occur? Thanks

 

[Mike007]

Grass only stops growing in August .Believe it or not! The rest of the time it grows but the speed varies.

 

[be positive]

It is growing here in Somerset, the horses droppings have become noticeably greener despite the recent frosts so some must be coming through when the sun came out, I will be dividing my fields in the next week or two to allow them some time to pick up before they get harrowed once it dries up, after the mud of last winter they are not looking too bad this year I just hope it does not continue to rain like it did today, I had got used to it being dry.

 

[twiggy2]

Grass only stops growing in August .Believe it or not! The rest of the time it grows but the speed varies.

Who toldyou that?

the temperature and sunlight controls the growth rates, below a certain temperature it cannot grow at all-that is why a frosty but sunny day increases laminitis risk as the sugars increases due to photosynthesis but the grass cannot use the sugar to grow so it is stored for a short while rather than used thereby increases lami risk

 

[Mike007]

Who toldyou that?

the temperature and sunlight controls the growth rates, below a certain temperature it cannot grow at all-that is why a frosty but sunny day increases laminitis risk as the sugars increases due to photosynthesis but the grass cannot use the sugar to grow so it is stored for a short while rather than used thereby increases lami risk

Who told me that , lots of folk including Reading university.The only time grass actualy stops growing is when it seeds.

 

[twiggy2]

Who told me that , lots of folk including Reading university.The only time grass actualy stops growing is when it seeds.

It sounds sensible that it stops growing when it seeds but not that it can grow what ever the temperature and sunlight (or lack of) is available-not saying your wrong just seem odd

 

[mhorses]

Yes last year I had to sow my grazing with new seeds as it was just a mud bath, it has lasted so well this winter considering March is in a fortnight.

 

[PollyP99]

" Grass hardly grows at all when the temperature is below 5°C, but grows vigorously in the warm wet conditions that are typical of the April, May and June period."

http://www.ukagriculture.com/crops/grassland_management.cfm

 

[Mike007]

But it only stops in August

 

[FfionWinnie]

If it's above 5c at night it will grow noticeably all winter. It's been a mild winter with plenty of growth. The horses will be eating it as fast as it grows but look at the verges or ungrazed fields.

 

[honetpot]

I thought it starts to grow properly when it reaches 10C air temperature

 

[FfionWinnie]

I thought it starts to grow properly when it reaches 10C air temperature

If that was true we would hardly have any grass in Scotland lol

 

[Auslander]

Mine hasn't really stopped growing all winter. All the grazed areas are coming back nicely, and my guys are eating grass in preference to hay. I've only bought 5 4ft bales of hay - was getting through 5 8ft bales a month from Nov-March last year!

 

[popsdosh]

But it only stops in August

Wrong! grass grows all the year round if the temperature is high enough to sustain it and it has moisture.Length of daylight also influences growth.
Look at the spot the difference article in the link below,it shows you growth throughout the year.

http://innovis.typepad.com/pasture_princess/2011/10/

 

[MissMistletoe]

I've often wondered if soil type effects soil temperature, therefore effecting grass growth.

Eg. Clay vs. sandy, due to the physical structure of the soil allowing heat through or not....?

 

[Goldenstar]

I think it does stop as it seeds however if grass is being managed so it does not seed it keeps growing until the light is short and the ground is cold .

 

[Thriller]

It grows when the ground temp is over 5 degrees, at any time of year. It doesn't suddenly stop in August.

 

[Mike007]

Grass never stops growing and if it does them it is when it seeds. guess when that is.

 

[popsdosh]

June!!

It doent stop then as it sends out new tillers and just carries on. The only thing that stops grass growth completely is Frost and roundup.

 

[JillA]

I've often wondered if soil type effects soil temperature, therefore effecting grass growth.

Eg. Clay vs. sandy, due to the physical structure of the soil allowing heat through or not....?

The wetter the soil the colder it is generally speaking, so clay and other water retaining soils are much slower getting to the temperature at which plants grow (5 degrees - soil temperature - as I understand it). Sandy soils dry out quicker so warm up quicker.

 

[_HP_]

All I know is I've just mowed my lawn...

 

[Gloi]

All I know is I've just mowed my lawn...

Mine needs doing too, may do it if it doesn't rain today. It needs mowing in August too!

 

[katymay]

Like be positive, I've noticed a change in dropping colour so there is grass coming through, really muddy bits that I've fenced off are starting to sprout grass again it's just growing far too slowly at the moment!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I'm guessing that heavily grazed or mown grass never gets to seed therefore never stops growing?

Our ungrazed paddocks haven't grown noticeably over winter even though it has been mostly mild but the horses don't seem to want hay supplementation now we have swapped paddocks so I guess there must be enough in there.

 

[HaffiesRock]

There is definitely some growth on my paddocks. Both ponies droppings have changed colour, the 2 paddocks which have been rested for the last 3 weeks are definitely greener looking and where the muck heap was taken away in November, there is nice green covering.

 

[marmalade76]

" Grass hardly grows at all when the temperature is below 5°C, but grows vigorously in the warm wet conditions that are typical of the April, May and June period."

http://www.ukagriculture.com/crops/grassland_management.cfm

This is how I've always understood it to be. My horses are eating it faster than it's growing ATM and are clearing up their hay now, but in mild winters (like the last one) we had plenty of grass all winter and hardly used any hay at all.

 

[FairyLights]

grass doesnt stop growing in August, theats absolute rubbish. Grass grows if the temperature is abouve 5 degrees C and there is enough daylight.

 

[tallyho!]

The grass has hardly stopped growing hence four fat horses despite NO hay or hard feed.

 

[amandaco2]

I think its grown a lot this winter. 2 fields rested since sept neon green, the ones rested since December are still just coming up. Hopefully in the next 3 weeks it will be warm and sunny enough for it to really start growing

 

[ribbons]

Grass will grow if soil temperature is 5 degrees or more.
The August theory is certainly not rubbish though.
If grass is ungrazed and uncut it will produce seed in August, it will therefore halt growth in order to put everything into seed production. If grazed or cut it will grow continually.
Fairylights, you might like to do some research before rubbishing fact.