fertilising fields advice please

O

orsceno1

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 June 2004
Messages
185
Location
Midlands
Visit site
My field could do with a boost and I am contemplating treating half of it with some nitrogen fertiliser. However Im not sure how long to leave the horses off it after fertilising/rain? I have an 11 year old but also an 11 month old filly and I remember a good while back there was a post about a foal being poisoned from eating fertilised grass
confused.gif
Any advice gratefully received!
 
I would seriously think twice about using a nitrogen based fertiliser on horse pasture. The grass will go crazy and is generally too rich/plentiful for the average horse. We never fertilise any of our fields, horses generally do well on relatively poor grazing (obviously, well maintained grazing).

When you say it needs a boost do you mean it has bare patches or is the grazing just poor quality all over?
 
its poor quality all over - could do with being totally rested but not an option. We usually do half the field each spring and grass never goes too crazy. My main concern is my filly - I want her to have decent grazing as obviously she needs it to grow, but dont want to kill her!
 
Thanks very much - not seen this before. Do you leave your horses off the grass for any time as website says no need to?
crazy.gif
Looks like it might be a better alternative tho
grin.gif
 
I thinkwe had some seaweed spread on ours once, and the horses didn't have to be left off at all. It seemed to perk it up a bit, but didn't go OTT and over rich (don't need that with our fatties!).

We did have some poo (chicken I think) spread on it once before, and we had to leave them off it for quite a while to let it 'soak' in.
 
I have only ever fertlised my paddocks while they are being rested for a week or two but the website does say that you don't need to remove them. It is a great product and one applicatoin in the spring keeps our grass coming back all year. It is a lot cheaper than normal fertilisers as well.
 
Ah ok. The Suregrow sounds a good option then.

Might be worth getting a soil analysis done to find out exactly what it is lacking?
 
Do not fertilise until you have had soil samples done as it is just a huge waste of money and could cause some major problems. Once you have your soil analysed you will know what it is lacking in - it may have a low pH which will mean that fertiliser is not what it needs = it needs lime. What is growing there is affected by the make up of the soil. Soil sampling is not expensive but can save you a fortune in the wrong fertiliser/ lime spreading. Some fertilisers are just wrong for horses and there are some links between chicken muck and grass sickness so do research very carefully and take some professional advice about what is best for your fields. try this website for advice - they are brilliant
www.mrscrow.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top