Extension

One of the signs that spring has arrived is when yellow buttercups begin to appear, but it is during the winter months that the vegetative growth of buttercups actually takes place.

As a cool-season weed, this plant often flourishes in over-grazed pasture with poor stands of desirable forages.  In fact, many fields that have dense buttercup populations are fields heavily grazed by animals during the fall through the early spring months.

Soil compaction is a common problem that many producers face, but is often overlooked. 

Significant soil compaction can reduce forage yields and slow forage establishment.  Manage-ment practices can be used to reduce and correct this problem while improving soil conditions.

TBA Georgina 4712 won grand champion female at the 2013 Kentucky Sweepstakes Show & Sale, March 1 in Louisville, Ky. Caleb Stephenson, Carrollton, Ky., consigned the April 2012 daughter of S A V Brave 8320. Doug Sherman, Laconia, Ind., evaluated the 45 entries. Photo by Chuck Grove, American Angus Association.

With last week’s article focusing on spring fertilization of lawns, this week’s article will continue the discussion with mowing lawns.

The first mowing, usually in late March, makes the lawn look spring-like and very attractive.  Subsequent regular mowing hardens the grass for drought and heat stresses later on. When the first clump of grass grows above the mowing height, mow, even if a lot of the yard does not need to be mowed yet.