Let It Grow

Let It Grow: How to Prepare Your Pastures for Triple-Digit Summers in North Carolina

Summer in North Carolina isn’t just hot—it’s punishing. Triple-digit heat, drought spells, and sporadic storms can wipe out a pasture faster than you can say “dry lot.” But the way we manage our pastures before the heat hits determines whether our land holds strong or gives out.

Here’s the bottom line: tall, living plants protect your pasture during heat waves—even if they’re not your favorite species.

The Misunderstood Power of Letting It Grow

It’s tempting to mow pastures when they look messy or weedy. But in the summer, short grass isn’t tidy—it’s a death sentence for your soil.

When you cut plants short, you expose the soil surface to intense sunlight. That skyrockets the temperature of the topsoil—sometimes over 130°F—and that’s a danger zone. At those temps, you’re not just stressing the plants. You’re killing the microbes, shrinking the root systems, and pushing your pasture into survival mode.

Tall plants act like a living umbrella:

• They shade the soil, keeping it cooler and moist.

• They protect roots, allowing them to stay active and resilient.

• They feed the biology below ground, keeping microbes and fungi alive during hard times.

Even if those plants are "weeds"—they’re still working for you. Their roots are holding soil in place. Their leaves are intercepting sun. Their presence is preventing erosion when rain finally arrives.

Bare Soil Doesn’t Soak—It Sheds

When you mow too short before a drought, you’re not just weakening plants—you’re losing water. When the rain does come, that parched, exposed soil becomes hard and sealed. Instead of soaking in, water runs off, taking your topsoil with it and leaving your pasture thirsty and damaged.

But when you’ve got a canopy of tall forage—even if it’s a mix of grasses, legumes, and broadleafs—rainfall slows down, spreads out, and sinks in. That water moves down into the root zone, feeding not just plants, but the soil life that helps your pasture bounce back fast when conditions improve.

Don’t Judge a Pasture by Its Weeds

Not all weeds are bad. In fact, many pioneer species show up in tough soils because they’re better equipped to survive—and start the healing process. Deep-rooted weeds can bring up minerals, break up compaction, and protect the soil when grasses have gone dormant.

If you let them grow tall before summer hits, they’ll help:

• Shield desirable grasses that are trying to regrow

• Hold soil structure during dry spells

• Provide organic matter when they’re grazed or trampled down

Later, when moisture returns, your pasture will come back stronger, not sparser.

Your Summer Survival Checklist

Want to prep your pasture for the heat? Start now with these steps:

1. Stop mowing for looks—start managing for function.

2. Let your forage grow taller than usual heading into summer.

3. Rest pastures when possible, allowing deeper root growth and canopy development.

4. Monitor soil temps if you can—cooler soil means better biology.

5. Leave residue on the surface—old growth acts like mulch and helps hold moisture.

   
   

The Bottom Line: Healthy pastures start above ground and below. Letting plants grow tall before the heatwave hits is not laziness—it’s smart management. You’re building protection, not just for your soil, but for your entire forage system.

Let it grow, let it shade, and let the soil breathe. Your future pasture will thank you.