Seasonal pasture management

This guide walks through the key seasonal decisions that help landholders maintain productive, resilient pastures year-round — from preparing paddocks for sowing to protecting groundcover during winter.

Autumn: Preparing paddocks for sowing

Autumn is the season for setting up success. If you’re planning to sow temperate pastures, the groundwork starts well before the seed goes in. A clean seedbed, low weed pressure and balanced soil nutrients are essential.

Many paddocks in NSW contain tens of thousands of annual grass seeds per square metre. Without intervention, these weeds will compete with new pasture seedlings for light, water and nutrients.

Key actions

• Use a 2–3 year clean-up strategy: cropping, spraytopping, silage/hay cutting and strategic grazing all help reduce weed seedbanks.
• Haymaking in early November is particularly effective for controlling annual ryegrass.
• Soil testing should guide fertiliser decisions — especially phosphorus, sulphur and pH levels.
• Choose pasture species suited to your soil type, rainfall zone and livestock system.

If you’re sowing sub-clover, remember that it needs sunlight and space to germinate. Excess summer biomass can block light and reduce establishment. Grazing or slashing may be needed to open up the canopy before rain arrives.

Autumn topdressing and fertiliser timing

Once pastures are sown or actively growing, fertiliser decisions come into play. Topdressing with phosphorus and sulphur can boost pasture growth and legume performance. Timing of fertiliser application is critical.

Autumn applications are generally more effective than winter ones, especially for sub-clover. Fertilising after mid-June may leave insufficient time for clover to set seed, reducing long-term persistence.

• Apply fertiliser when soil moisture is adequate and groundcover is stable.
• Avoid topdressing just before heavy rain or storms as nutrients may be lost to runoff.
• Use soil tests to determine what’s needed and where.
• Consider combining fertiliser with clover seed if conditions allow for full germination and seed set.

Not all paddocks need fertiliser every year. Prioritise areas with known deficiencies or high production potential.

Winter: Building resilience and managing feed gaps

Winter pasture growth slows dramatically, especially in tropical species. Without careful management, groundcover can decline, erosion risks increase, and livestock may face nutritional stress.

What to watch for in winter

• Tropical grasses like kikuyu may drop to 2–3 kg DM/ha/day in winter, compared to 45–55 kg/day in summer.
• Overgrazing reduces residual cover, which is critical for regrowth and soil protection.
• Pasture rulers or boot height can help estimate dry matter. Aim for 1,500–2,500 kg DM/ha for cattle.

Winter management tips

• Leave 5–10 cm of pasture height after grazing to allow recovery.
• Use feed budgeting tools to identify and plan for supplementary feeding.
• Avoid pugging and compaction in wet conditions. Rotate stock or use sacrifice paddocks if needed.
• Maintain biodiversity and perennial species to support long-term resilience.

Spring: Weed control and grazing decisions

Spring brings rapid growth and weed competition. Newly sown pastures must compete with winter and summer weeds, and grazing decisions can make or break establishment.

Spring priorities

• Control winter weeds like Vulpia spp. and summer weeds like crumbweed and fat hen.
• Sow with appropriate nutrients - phosphorus, sulphur and nitrogen all play a role.
• Avoid sowing pasture seeds too deep; they’re smaller than cereal grains and need good soil contact.
• Delay grazing until new plants are well anchored. If soil is wet, avoid pugging and damage.

Some species may go reproductive quickly in spring. Consider whether legumes like sub-clover will have enough time to flower and set seed. Perennial legumes such as lucerne and white clover are more reliable in spring sowings.

Pastures in wet conditions

Heavy rainfall can be both a blessing and a challenge for pasture systems. While it replenishes soil moisture, it can also lead to waterlogging, nutrient leaching, and physical damage to plants and soil.

Assessing pasture after rain

After significant rainfall, it’s important to inspect paddocks for signs of damage and recovery potential. Look for:

• Pugging or compaction from livestock, especially in clay soils
• Loss of groundcover or erosion in bare areas
• Yellowing or poor growth, which may indicate nutrient deficiency
• Weed emergence, particularly in disturbed or low-competition zones

Use pasture rulers or dry matter estimates to determine whether grazing can resume safely. In some cases, delaying grazing or rotating stock may be necessary to protect soil structure.

Species for wet areas

Some pasture species tolerate wet conditions better than others. These can be useful in flood-prone zones, low-lying paddocks or areas with poor drainage.

• Yorkshire fog: Tolerates waterlogging and shade, but can become dominant if unmanaged.
• Tall fescue: Deep-rooted and persistent, suited to heavier soils.
• Paspalum: Responds well to summer rain, useful in coastal areas.
• White clover: Performs well in moist conditions and fixes nitrogen.
• Balansa clover: Suited to waterlogged soils, often used in floodplain systems.
• Perennial ryegrass: Can tolerate short-term waterlogging in cooler zones.

Choosing the right species depends on soil type, rainfall patterns and grazing system. In some cases, a mix of tolerant species may be more effective than relying on a single option.

Managing nitrogen deficiency

Waterlogged soils often lose nitrogen through leaching or denitrification. Symptoms include pale leaves, slow growth and poor tillering. Recovery depends on soil moisture, temperature and pasture species.

Management options include:

• Applying nitrogen fertiliser once soils begin to dry
• Using legumes to fix nitrogen naturally
• Avoiding overgrazing, which slows recovery and reduces root mass
• Monitoring plant response before applying fertiliser — split applications may be more effective than a single large dose.

In severely affected paddocks, consider reseeding or renovating with species better suited to wet conditions. Soil testing can help confirm nutrient losses and guide recovery strategies.