Overseeding warm-season perennial grasses, such as bahiagrass or bermudagrass, with cool-season annuals can extend the forage production season into the winter months. The productivity of these forages fluctuates across the year due to seasonality of growth. They are generally more productive from May to October. At the end of the fall, bahiagrass and bermudagrass enter a period of winter dormancy, which prioritizes storing nutrients in the root system and less on aboveground growth. These forages do not regrow until temperatures warm again in the spring.
During the fall window, warm-season perennial pastures and hayfields can be overseeded with cool-season annuals to help close the winter forage gap. Thatch management, timing and soil fertility are keys to success in establishment. Make sure fields have been mowed or grazed to remove excess warm-season forage growth. This improves seed-to-soil contact and helps cool-season forages get started. Timing is key because cool-season forages should be planted prior to the onset of the first hard frost. Generally, the window of planting is between late September through early November in the Southeast. This allows young, tender growth of cool-season forages to begin establishing a root system before extended periods of cold occur.
Soil fertility is always a point to consider when managing forages. Most cool-season annuals require a minimum soil pH of 6.0, especially legumes like clovers. Make sure soil pH is within the appropriate range to support cool-season forage growth. When soil pH is in the correct range, this allows fertilizer to be used more efficiently and effectively by actively growing forages.
Finally, now is the time to source seed and decide what cool-season forages fit best for your region. A mixture of cool-season forages can help lengthen the growing season. Two-way or three-way blends of small grains, annual ryegrass and annual clovers have been shown to add an additional 30 to 50 days of grazing compared to planting each species alone in our multiyear research trials conducted in southern Alabama. The extended grazing season provided by overseeded cool-season mixtures may reduce feeding costs during the traditional winter shortage in forage production.
For more information on species and varieties to plant, contact your local extension office or seed salesperson to learn more about what might be a fit for your operation.
