Another question about land..

[LHIS]

Afternoon all,
I recently posted about draining land and general suitability for horses. Long story short we pulled out of the purchase of that property due to my concerns over the land and the fact that the house wasn't quite right.
I've found another, this time it's on the edge of the moors and completely different. The land is between a gentle and medium slope, but there's plenty of it and it has a menage.
My question is about rushes - upon walking the fields I noted that the top field (i.e highest up) had quite a patch of rushes. The land itself was nice grazing, currently has sheep on it, and wasn't boggy. It's not had horses on it for a year or so apparently. I want to know what the presence of rushes indicates, if they can be left (will they take over? As mentioned we have plenty of other land so I don't 'need' to have them cleared), how to get rid of them if we decided to do that, and any other general advice?
The house is perfection, the stables are great, the menage is great and I think we're going to go for this one, but I want to go in with my eyes open. It would be a long term home for us and I don't mind hard work. There is also a farmer next door who I plan on befriending. The area itself is horsey/agricultural.

 

[PorkChop]

It sounds lovely

The presence of rushes wouldn't bother me as long as it wasn't boggy. Problem is because we have had a really dry spell I wouldn't expect anywhere to be muddy at the moment.

But like you say, you don't absolutely need to use that field for the horses.

It really does sound perfect, fingers crossed for you

 

[JillA]

Rushes do suggest waterlogging, but they could be from past wet land (and have been drained?). Depends on how many and how widespread - the odd patch might just be where water lies in the wet winter months. One of my field had rushes, not wet enough to be a problem for grazing but did become an issue one wet summer when we couldn't get machinery on to harvest the hay. If that's the only indicator of water lying I wouldn't worry, but if they were widespread all over the field maybe investigate a little further, or if there is enough other land, live with them for a year or two and see how they go.
Good luck with it, that one sounds much better (I am a great believer in fate playing a part in finding your nearly perfect house).

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

If it is on edge of moors, it is likely to be a random patch of bog. It might be dry enough at the moment to be firm enough to walk on, but will likely be the first bit to indicate the water table is rising. I've had fields with the clumps of marsh grash (like really stiff chives, about 12-18" high) that apparently isn't good for horses, but mine all hoovered it up with no ill effects.

 

[benz]

As above rushes indicate wet land. If it's one patch i wouldnt worry. They do spread though so best to keep on top of it if you dont want to leave a marshy area for wildlife. We weed wipe ours and graze cattle but the best thing to do is improve the drainage

 

[LHIS]

Thanks everyone! Are they fair game for horse forage, or are they toxic, just in case someone fancies a nibble?
With regards to clearing them, we probably will do some drainage works over time but it won't be straight away. Would there be any point cutting/mowing them without removing them entirely, or would like likely make them spread?

 

[Mule]

Rushes are present in very wet ground. Because the rushes are in the higher part of the land it's likely that the lower part is regularly topped ( rushes cut down by machine) as lower lying land will tend to be wetter. They won't spread and horses won't eat them. They aren't poisoness. You can keep them under control but it will take a lot of effort to improve the land.

 

[LHIS]

Ok, so with it being reasonably high ground how is it that it can be naturally wet ground? That seems like a stupid question as I type it, but I genuinely don't know!
We're going to see it again this weekend so I'll have another good tramp around the fields.
The fact of the matter is that to get the lifestyle and property we want we can't have it all, or at least not right away. Perhaps the land might need careful manage in the immediacy and some drainage work in time, but I hope I can make it a wonderful home for us and our animals.

 

[cobgoblin]

Could there be a natural spring on that part of the land?

 

[JillA]

Ok, so with it being reasonably high ground how is it that it can be naturally wet ground.

If it is on the edge of a moor, could be spring(s) emerging? Or a natural bowl collecting run off? Or impervious soil such as clay? You need to look at the topography, and ask the vendors, they should be able to tell you how they have coped with it - the main thing is there somewhere for it to drain TO if at some future point you incest in some drainage.

 

[benz]

Our horses do eat the rushes down in fact they seem to like them! In my experience they spread quickly if land conditions are favourable so best to stay on top of them.

As others have said maybe the ground is different or the water is coming from underground, or indeed maybe the current owners are controlling them well. I'd be inclined to speak to them and I wouldnt let it put me off if everything else is what you want, all land will have its good and bad points

 

[popsdosh]

I did say on the previous post it is very common for the wettest spot in a field to be the highest point. Unless you wish to invest in drainage they will be a perennial issue and not so easy to drain the land if on the edge of the moor due to rock near the surface. Those areas will always be boggy if not drained.

 

[Cobbytype]

Sounds fab LHIS. If there's ample land I'm sure you'll cope with muddy bits in winter. I'm on clay which is awful in winter, but it's productive in summer. We have a spring in one part of the paddock too which doesn't help and we get a lot of Willowherb in that patch, but I just strim it down now and then.

Maybe a trip to the local pub or a horsey neighbour will enlighten you on the land conditions? Mind you, if anyone asked about my paddock the locals would say it's rubbish land. Didn't stop 8 people asking to buy it in the week following the loss of my horse mind, 2 of those were on the day I lost him! Tactful lot around here :-(

 

[Fiona]

We have rushes on our ground because the soil is acidic . They are easily kept on top of by topping or strimming by hand, and then knapsack spraying the regrowth.

Don't worry and I hope you get it...

Fiona

 

[alibali]

My bottom paddock was boggy and full of rushes when I bought it. I strimmed the rushes twice in the first year to get rid of the old growth then my horses started eating the new growth preferentially. I haven't done any drainage. 10 years on the field has no rushes but is still boggy! Next door field which is not grazed is covered in rushes.

 

[LHIS]

We went for a second viewing today - I still love it. I had another tramp around the fields and I'm satisfied that I have enough non-rushes land for it not to be a problem. OH liked the house too (didn't love it like I do) and we put in an offer, it was declined (we thought it would be but you can only try), so will put in another on Tuesday when the estate agents reopen. Naturally the sellers want full whack for it, I'm hoping we can pay 10k less than asking.
Hopefully all being well it course upon survey it won't be another duffer! This will be our third property we have found and liked.