Grass seeding....

[Rach_007]

Hi all....

I have read some previous posts on here re: grass seeding...but its all new to me so still a little unsure....

I have an acre or so of rented land for two small native ponies, not sure of its exact size but its big enough to section it into 3 different parts in the summer with enough room for them to move and not graze too much (both lamintic prone!) The field is fairly steeply sloped at the very top but then flattens out about half way down...its not too poached at the moment!

So when is the best time to lay down some grass seed in the top half? there is no way i could get a vehicle in to roller etc and is too steep anyway, but i would like a nice covering of grass come spring summer! and how should i go about it! ( i a willing to do some handy work without machinery etc as its not too huge an area)

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

grass only grows when temps are consistantly above 6 degrees. you can patch up gateways and thin patches by top seeding by hand and raking in (otherwise birds eat the grass seed) but young grass is very vulnerable and needs time to establish a root base. dont think it is worth trying to topseed now as temps are not in favour for the next 12 weeks.i would suggest you wait til spring unles you are sure that you are going to get mild temps. it takes nearly 3 weeks to see the new shoots of grass so when you do patch up make sure to fence it off.

 

[Polotash]

Yep, it's too late now... I put a tiny bit down about a month ago (in thje garden, not the fields!) and it's now an inch or so tall, but we're in Cornwall and haven't had temps below 8 degrees yet. If we have a decent March I'd stick it down then, but you do need to fence it off and allow it to establish well for a few months, otherwise the horse just pull it up by the roots as the eat because it hasn't established a decent root system.

 

[Rach_007]

lovely...thanks guys, will have a go in spring then! should have done it earlier but will know next time!

 

[Tnavas]

Early autumn is the best time to re seed as the general weeds have died back so giving the grass a chance to sprout and establish itself.

It needs around six months to establish a root system deep enough to cope with a pony eating the grass. Sheep are the best to use to reduce the height and to help trample the soil around the new grass.