How to Plant an Alfalfa Grass Mix

Prepare the planting site. Select a location for alfalfa that is in deep, well-drained soil and full sun. Alfalfa grass requires soil with a pH of 6.5 and high fertility.

Dig up to 10 soil samples from across your land by placing a soil auger against the soil. Turn the auger to drill down into the soil and pull dirt out of the ground. Collect this loose dirt into a bucket and mix thoroughly. Spread this dirt over a newspaper and allow it to dry. Pick out any large rocks, roots or other debris. Scoop a cup of soil into a plastic sandwich bag. Take this bag to your nearest county extension service. An agent with the service can help you to submit the soil sample to a reputable soil laboratory for testing. The test will reveal your soil structure and mineral makeup as well as recommend soil amendments to improve your soil for growing alfalfa.

Purchase soil amendments based on the recommendations made by the soil test. Good soil amendments for alfalfa include compost, peat moss and biosolids to condition soil as well as potash, phosphorous and boron fertilizer. You may also need to add dolomite lime to raise the pH of acidic soil or sulfur to lower the pH of alkaline soil.

Break up the soil to a depth of 12 inches with a tractor and disk plow. You may rent these tools from an equipment supply or farm store. Spread the fertilizer and soil conditioners over the soil at a rate of 3 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of soil. Plow the soil amendments into the soil to mix them thoroughly until the seed bed is smooth and uniform. Firm the seed bed by driving a roller over it.

Plant alfalfa in late spring or early fall. Do not attempt to plant the seed in summer or winter. Fill a broadcast seed spreader with the seed at a rate of 16 lb. of mixed seed per acre of land. Drive the seed spreader over the land to distribute the seed evenly.

Drag a roller over the soil to cover the seed to a depth of 1/4 inch.