Harrowing and re-seeding

[dibbin]

Hi all

We moved our horses onto our own land in January, and have just switched them from winter to summer grazing. The winter field's going to need some sprucing up for next season but this is my first time managing my own grass so I have a couple of questions for those in the know:

- I'm planning to buy our own harrow for the fields. We have a small 4x4 (Suzuki Jimny) to tow it. We have 2 fields of just under 2 acres each and the soil is heavy clay with a decent slope to it. Would a chain harrow be best or another type? One that could double as an arena harrow would be ideal - assuming we can ever afford to actually put an arena in!

- There are a couple of bare patches that will need to be re-seeded. There seems to be quite a variety of seed mixes for horse pasture, can anyone recommend a particular brand/mix?

- The field has quite a lot of divots due to 2 large idiots fannying around in it. Will it need to be rolled, or do you think harrowing alone will do the trick? It's not massively rutted but the divots could do with flattening out.

Thanks in advance

 

[dibbin]

*bump*

Anyone?

 

[JillA]

A small chain harrow will be about all you can tow with something like a Jimny, especially up slopes, but you will need to add a little weight to it, mine tends to bounce along - fine for spreading droppings, useless at pulling out dead grass etc.. My neighbour is very keen on getting a Cambridge roller but that would need a tractor. Have you got a local contractor who would come and roll it for you before it gets too hard, and maybe harrow it too? You really need a heavy flat roller to level out the divots, especially now it has begun to dry out, and clay dries hard, and a decent harrow will do the job better in a fraction of the time.
I wouldn't spend money on seed of you are going to graze it next winter, the growth will be too immature and grazing will pull it out by the roots. Chuck your seeds from under hay nets on it and maybe next autumn feed hay on those patches, the seeds will drop out and you will get grass come spring.

 

[PorkChop]

We have a chain harrow that we pull with our quad, 5ft wide, large spikes on one side and smoother on the other. It actually does quite a good job. It will do the arena as well.

I would be rolling first after a spell of rain - or even better borrow some sheep, they do the best job

If you must re seed I wouldn't spend too much, as it will only get trashed next winter.

Also remember to be careful in resting your field after harrowing, just thinking of the increased risk in grass sickness.

 

[Dry Rot]

To get the best out of harrowing and rolling you need to choose when the soil conditions are right.

Harrow when the lumps are damp and crumbly and they break up when you kick or crush them with your foot. Rolling is traditionally done after harrowing to press stones back in ready for mowing before hay making. But they do say there is no point in rolling except when your tractor wheels leave a mark but don't sink in.

I have a timber railway sleeper dragging behind my chain harrows that does a good job of levelling out mole hills, lumps, etc. but I am on sand. Rolling wet clay can create a 'pan' or impermiable layer, so not a good idea. Get out there with a spade and do some tests to see what the soil is really like.

 

[Clodagh]

My OH ( a farmer) says, like DR, you shouldn't roll clay. We just harrow when it is dry. If it is old ley the grass will regrow after a real battering and if you keep weeds topped (I use an old ride on mower) the grass soon takes over again.