Grazing/Farming advice

F

Finnbob

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 October 2008
Messages
170
Visit site
Hi guys I've been offered a piece of land but unfortunately it is in quite a state at the moment. The whole thing needs fencing and is waist high with thistles and buttercups and looks pretty crappy but the field next door which has been looked after is really nice so I'm hoping there is hope for my piece (presumably its similar soil and conditions etc).

So what I need to know is what do I need to do to restore this land to good grazing? It's been abandoned for at least 5 years but I think was previously usable grazing.

Do I cut the field first? Or spray it? With what? And how long before horses can use it etc?

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
Ours was like this when we purchased it. We got a local farmer to cut and bale what was growing and then take it away - goodness only knows what he did with it LOL. We then weed sprayed etc. Horses were allowed on it a few weeks after it had been sprayed and the weeds died. We've grazed it ever since. Year on year the grazing has improved - it does take time but we have grazed it since the first year we purchased it.

NB we had docks, nettles, thistles etc but NO ragwort to worry about.
 
Most important is getting it topped and that might be all it needs if you do it soon enough (before thistles go to seed.)
The OH charges about £12 per hour for topping but would not take a tractor somewhere for less than £100 (plus vat.) I would avoid using someone who only does 'paddock maintainance' as this would probably cost more like £200 plus vat. Your best bet is to find a local farmer to do it.
If it does need spraying, you could spray the worst patches with Grazon with a knapsack sprayer (could you borrow?) as spraying with a tractor would be expensive.
 
excellent thanks guys, how long after Grazon before horses can go on it? What exactly does grazon get rid of?
 
Not sure, I don't think its long, would ask OH but he's gone to bed (can hear him snoring!) Grazon only kills weeds.
You don't say wheather or not you are buying the ground.If you have just been offered the use of it, be careful not to spend too much money on getting it up together, fencing etc.
My dad rented half his neighboughs' field for some time. He topped it, rolled it, harrowed it, got rid of the weeds and rested it so it had a lovely covering of lush grass. The side the neighboughs were using was bare with lots of weeds so they told my dad they wanted him to move out so they could use his side themselves and all the work he'd done had been for nothing. If it had been me, I would have charged them for all the work, but dad didn't want to fall out with them as he has to live next to them. They were obviously not worried about upsetting him though!
 
You can put the horses back on the grass about 7/10 days after spraying. Remember though to empty, clean out & replace water in any troughs that were in the padocks when you sprayed.
 
ok thanks everyone. The land will be leased from the local town council on a rolling 12 month agreement which as I understand it basically means for as long as I want it (hoping i understand it correctly!)

hopefully we wont have to move from the farm for another few months so I can get this place really sorted before the horses go on it...
 
If the grass and weeds are waist high it really wants cutting, baling and taking away, that way you are taking a lot of weed seeds off the field. If you top that amount of growth it will take a long time to rot down. Get it cut, cleared and fertilised if rain is forcast to wash it in, wait for it to grow a bit to see what weeds appear and treat accordingly. I would do it asap before the thistles come out on flower. If you have big patches of nettles they are a so and so to get rid of, you just have to keep topping them into submission!

Hope this helps

HH
 
Its really the wrong time of year to spray or fertilise.
I would either have the rough growth cut and baled ,or preferably topped with a flail mower.Once regrowth stars to occur (late august) Harrow the living daylights out of it,and keep doing this every few weeks until late autumn,or weather/soil conditions stop you.
The problem with neglected pasture is there are large areas of bare soil betwean individual grass plants.You need to encourage the grass to "tiller" and fill in these gaps. Grass thrives on being harrowed,Weeds dont.
I would consider spraying,next spring,dont leave it too late,small weeds are much easier to kill than large vigourous ones.Depending on your soil type,the field may need liming,your local agricultural merchants will be able to advise you.I would not spend money on fertiliser,until the graqss has tillered and filled the bare patches,you will just be feeding the weeds.
 
Can I just say Mike your posts on maintaining land have been very helpful - thank you!
smile.gif
It's great when people who actually understand the principles behind things come on and speak up
smile.gif

Great replies thanks!
smile.gif

Kate x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top