Being aware of the plant life in our horse pasture is an essential part of good pasture management and horse care. So I have been researching online to identify the different types of grasses, plants, and weeds growing in our pastures.
Checking after spraying for weeds and while the grasses seeding is helpful. Also, using an app called “PictureThis,” we found at least nineteen types of grasses, weeds, and herbs. Here’s a list of what we found.
Grass:
- Bahiagrass
- Brome
- Couch Grass
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Fescue
- Wheatgrass
Weeds:
- Green Milkweed
- Prairie Fleabane
- Ragweed
- Thistle
- Virginia Peperweed
- Wall Barley
Herbs:
- Basil Thyme
- Hop Trefoil
- Large-Flowered Tickseed
- Largebracted Plantain
- Red Clover
The only weed shown to be toxic (that I can find) is the thistle, which is why Cory spraying is essential because it kills off this weed. Here is a thistle recently sprayed that is now dying before it can bud and seed out. Some grasses could become toxic with fungus if not kept mowed. We can improve our pasture by planting Bermuda grass, but until then, we have Bermuda hay.
We will continue to observe our pastures and help to make them a place where our beloved pet Lorelie can graze safely.
If you have questions about pasture management, please visit https://agdivision.okstate.edu/.
Brush Springs Stables 