Grass Seed

F

feet

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Hey Just wondering if anyone can help me. I am going to seed a 5 acre field with grass for horses. Just wondered if anyone knew of any good grasses or what to avoid? I need it to root quickly and last a long time without needing to being re sown.

Any advise would be fab,

Thanks :)
 
Have done this several times with fields which where previously used for crops.
Find a specialist grass contractor who has the right equipment for creating and maintaining grassland. (Not a farmer!)
Firstly get a soil analysis done to determine if it needs anything added to the soil.
Spray on total kill on to the present crop/weeds. Allow to die.
Put in any drainage pipes etc.
Plough up and cultivate and leave for three emonths until weeds start to grow and use total kill again.
We tend to drill in the seed rather than broadcast them.
Roll the field.
Keep horses off the field for at least 2 years to allow root structure to develop.
Allow grass to grow and then cut and collect about 3 times in first year to get grass to bulk up.
Cut several times in second year to allow grass to bulk up.
 
Quite a lot of differing views on this - some believe Ryegrass can be a laminitus risk (google it).

I'd suggest speaking to your local agricultural merchant, they should be able to put you in touch with a seed consultant who will analyse your soil type and advise you accordingly.

How long it will last will really depend on how you look after it. Any paddock that is not maintained correctly will quickly become over grazed, stale and prone to weed growth.
 
hi,we had 5 acres done 5 yrs ago,brought a "horse and pony"mix had it drilled by farmer,it was done in the sep and by the following aug the horses were turned out on it,the fields a grade 1 agricultural,and had been growing sprouts,we never had a prob with old crop growing,and we just weed killed in the summer as we had a bit of dock coming up,its on clay tho so does get a bit muddy in the winter,just keep it well topped as it gets going as it helps with the rooting i believe,good luck its exciting doing it from scratch!!!
 
Yeah it is exciting, im setting up a livery yard when PP comes through so at the moment im trying to work out how much grass I will need and if/what/how much winter turn out I will need and in what form it should come. Its all really scary but exciting :)
 
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