An understanding of grass types and the way they operate will help you manage your pastures better. The main reason pastures look so bad in summer is that cool-season grasses are by far the most dominant forages in the southeastern part of the United States. Fescue, orchardgrass, timothy and bluegrass are all cool-season grasses. Once temperatures exceed that, these grasses begin to go into dormancy and will actually quit growing and begin to turn brown. Some of the grass may die during extended hot-weather droughts, particularly if the plant has not had time to develop an adequate root system.
Dormancy ends once the temperature drops back.
Warm-season grasses behave at the opposite extreme, turning brown at the hint of frost. They green up in late spring and thrive during the hot days of summer. Fertilize throughout the late spring on toward early fall for a healthy, thick warm-season pasture. A thick stand minimizes the need for herbicides. Your local Cooperative Extension may be able to tell you who, in your area, has a no-till seeder.