Restoring grassland after mouse damage

Repair damage early in spring

So take action early in the spring. This helps limit forage losses. Depending on the severity of the damage, you can reseed or overseed the field. The period from February to mid‑March is ideal for this. Your choice of grass variety depends on how you intend to use the field within your dairy operation. Your forage position and crop rotation plan are important starting points when selecting the right grass.

Step-by-step plan for restoring grassland after feeding damage

Step 1. Assess the field

Is recovery still possible, or is there so much weed pressure and/or poor‑quality grasses in the field that it is better to completely reseed?
Use the following rule of thumb:

Reseed when: 

• Less than 60% desirable grasses
• More than 20% couch grass
• There is structural damage caused by mouse activity

Overseed when:

• There are 60–80% desirable grasses

Step 2. Soil preparation

A proper soil preparation is essential for successful grassland restoration.
Discuss the best approach with your contractor. In the past, very good results have been achieved using an overtop rotavator for reseeding.

Step 3. Weed control

You have several options for weed control:

• Is weed pressure low? Choose a mechanical approach by using a tine weeder. This removes weeds and dead organic material.
• Is weed pressure high? Choose chemical weed control. Chickweed can be treated early in the spring with products that are effective at low temperatures. Couch grass can be controlled more effectively during the growing season. After spraying, wait at least one week before reseeding or overseeding the field.

If you choose to overseed first and then control the weeds, wait two weeks after overseeding before applying the weed treatment.

Step 4. Choose the right grass seed mixture

The right grass seed mixture depends on how you intend to use the field and for how long. Different solutions are available for short-term, medium-term and long-term grassland restoration. When making your choice, consider the desired lifespan of the grassland, your forage requirements and the level of investment that fits your farm.

For short-term use, the focus may be on rapid establishment and quickly replenishing forage stocks. For a longer period of use, yield, persistence and sward quality become increasingly important. Choose the solution that best matches your farm's forage strategy and crop rotation.