Grass Mat and Poached gateway tips needed!!!!!

[magic14339]

Hi

One of my paddocks is already poached and I am trying to think of ways to protect the others. Do many of you use grass mats? I am considering this as it would appear to be the easiest way to protect gateways withough having to do any groundwork.

Can grass mats be put on an already poached gateway???

 

[mtj]

my understanding is that the mats need to be layed on a level surface and given time for the grass to establish through them.

I had mats (professionally) layed in the paddock gateways and am dissapointed. They have reduced the amount of poaching, but I think they are too expensive for the results achieved.

We are on heavy clay. I'm going to replace the mats with hardcore.

 

[Minxie]

My neighbour owns a huge sports ground development company and i asked him about the grass mats before. He felt that unless they were laid professionally they weren't worth the money as they get embedded / lift / fill with water etc etc.

However

I can completely relate to your need / worry / want to get help the problem and unless there is anything else on the market to use could be worth a go - maybe try it in a small area and gauge if you think its helping or not. I think if I had the cash I'd be trying a small sample area. The weather is only going to get worse over the years so if it works could be a decent investment.

What I did last year was re-seeded a part of the field with a specialist 'tough' grazing seed. It didn't stop the poaching but i think it did help it last a bit longer and it recovered a bit quicker the following year. But again its not a cheap option.