Best grasses to use for new paddock

[Wheels]

The grass in my field is basically gone and has been replaced by weeds of various types. I'm starting again - had half the field burned off and it will be ploughed, drilled and re-seeded. Then will do the other half next year (the slightly less weed dense side)

So I get to put in exactly what I want, only I don't know enough to know what I want.

I have 2 very good doers, 1 good doer and one average. None of them have ever had lami but the good doers could be at risk if anything too rich goes in. I'm not planning on cutting hay but will probably take a batch off this year once it's grown up and before it's grazed.

I know ryegrass is not the best thing for horses but is it still ok to have some within a mix of other grasses or best to avoid altogether? What are the best grasses and what should be avoided.

 

[Blanche]

Join this group on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/1862115997153052/ . I t offers advice on grass seed. Also try , I think it was https://www.habitataid.co.uk/ recommended on the FB group.

 

[JillA]

Basically avoid rye grass - it has many times the sugar content of the normal meadow grasses. And also, It really is best to give it 18 months before new seeds are grazed, to get the roots established enough to not be pulled out. Mow it for hay in the first year but if you graze it too soon you'll end up back at square one.

 

[TigerTail]

Depends on your soil type drainage etc as to what seeds will do well for you - obv no rye, but getting a knowledgeable person to do a soil sample is a good start then have a look at some of these types - or find a good contractor!

https://www.meadowmania.co.uk/pasture-grass-seed.htm

 

[Wheels]

Very interesting, thanks peeps.

So I should not have any ryegrass at all then? Some of the horse specific mixes have 50 % rye mixed with others but you think that's not really suitable?

I have found one with no ryegrass

 

[JillA]

http://www.thelaminitissite.org/apps/search?q=ryegrass - have a read and decide.

I got mine from The Grass Seed Store - good choice and good service
https://www.thegrassseedstore.co.uk...Le3dXp4SMn1hGaSzfdwnPsOR8HaXyY_hoC4FQQAvD_BwE

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

http://www.thelaminitissite.org/apps/search?q=ryegrass - have a read and decide.

I got mine from The Grass Seed Store - good choice and good service
https://www.thegrassseedstore.co.uk...Le3dXp4SMn1hGaSzfdwnPsOR8HaXyY_hoC4FQQAvD_BwE

We recently bought some 'Meadow mix' grass seed for horses from Boston Seed Company, which has NO rye grass in it. They do have some seed mixes which contain rye grasses as well but we wanted to avoid those.

 

[Wheels]

The Boston seed company mixes seem like good value pearlsasinger. I was looking at their webpage earlier

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The Boston seed company mixes seem like good value pearlsasinger. I was looking at their webpage earlier

The service was very quick, next day delivery.

 

[DabDab]

Slightly different situation as I'm progressively over seeding (as the paddocks here were wrecked and nothing but weeds when we bought the place), but I have ordered non ryegrass mixtures from Boston, the grass seed store and meadow mania. All had equally good service, but my personal favourite mix is the 'natural renovation' mix from meadow mania.