Essex people - do you have grass?

[Theresa_F]

Our summer fields have been rested since end of October as we do every year. Horse go back on beginning of May.

Fields are not fertilised as we have native types and don't want it too rich. For several years I spread the last two weeks load of poo over my field as they come off it and this is enough to give my grass a little boost as I need more grass than the other field for my two - (I worm count first to make sure the boys are free of worms before doing this).

This year our grass has only grown from bowling green to about 1" - 1 1/2 "since last November and there are also some bare areas where the grass has died off. Fields next door are the same - little or no growth. Normally by now we have about 3" long grass.

Anyone else having problems with growth and any recommendations for getting grass to grow but not too lush?

If not, looks like I will be feeding hay this summer in the field or keeping them on winter paddocks until June to give them a chance to grow.

 

[Stoxx]

Our fields have been completely rested since the end of November and we aren't turning out yet. The grass is starting to come through but in comparison to previous years, no, we don't have as much as what I would consider to be normal.

 

[Shipley]

our are the same we are holding off going onto the summer grass and still on half day turnout (winter paddocks)

 

[H-J]

Our fields are looking ok, we change fields every time we worm (every 6 weeks ish) the field they are in at the mo is a bit short on grass but we change Sunday after we have wormed Friday and those fields have lots of grass in.

We do tend to alays have good grazing though and the fields are well maintained

 

[0ldmare]

Down in Kent our fields have not taken off at all yet. Just the tiniest bit of growth maybe. I have put mine on their summer field already. To be honest they are all such porkers that I dont mind if there isnt too much grass!

 

[DiablosGold]

Our field has been rested since November and there's hardly any good grass

 

[fairhill]

Not Essex, but no grass growing up here either. There's normally enough grass for them to go out first weekend in May, but we're looking like the end of May at the earliest.
Our summer fields have been rested since Dec, and fertilised, but it's just too wet and cold for the grass to come through yet

 

[Carys]

Not much growth in our grass as yet - OK as native gets fat just looking so she's happy that she's not restricted / brought in earlier yet !!

 

[The Voice]

Our fields are looking poor with little growth even though they have been rested and fertilized. The growth has been getting later each year and now sems to be coming through late May time and we seem to have have more grass over the summer months.

We have had swallows flying around the last week which seems early along with Butterflies, wasps and bees.

 

[Angua2]

no growth on our summer fields yet either. They have been rested since November and going on past history usually get opened about the end of may, so I can't see that this year will be any different.