Harrowing Fields

[Flame_]

Is there any point harrowing paddocks a few times a year when its dry enough, that are never rested apart from immediately after fertilizing? My YO is about to harrow all the paddocks which are all relatively small with one or two horses in them.

Some are poo picked regularly, is there a point harrowing them?

Some are never poo picked, is there a point harrowing them?

I would think no to both, YO must obviously think yes. Enlighten me please HHOers.

Thank you.

 

[BobbyMondeo]

I would say no point harrowing the ones that are poo picked.

 

[canteron]

Would be interested to hear everyones views, but my understanding is that harrowing does help to aerate(?) the soil and help new growth, so probably is good in the field which is poo picked.

With regard to the one that isn't, I would think that it would be better to rest it after being harrowed, however as we have had such a cold winter, it is hopeful that there are less 'nasties' to spread around so hopefully won't do too much harm, and hopefully will do some good.

 

[catembi]

We bought a little tractor & a harrow last year, & did our fields 2 or 3 x a week. It breaks up all the poo & rakes all the dead rubbish out of the grass. Our fields looked the best they've ever done & I had a clear / zero worm count!

 

[HayleyandBob]

i think it does help to clear out any moss etc in the grass and levels out any mounds of soil

 

[LCobby]

Harrowing will break up clumps of dead grass and moss, aerate the soil, and flatten out any poached areas.
Any unpicked droppings will be broken uo and avoid the fields developing patches of rank grass, and probaly picked over by the crows. If the resident horses are wormed regularly, then no nasties to spread.

 

[1275gta]

Personally I would have thought it is still too wet, harrowing does do the grass good, we harrow and roll every year.

 

[Flame_]

Our fields have really dried up actually, that's why YOs starting the summer stuff early.

That's interesting about it helping the quality of grass, I just thought it was to spread muck about

. Hence why I couldn't understand doing the fields that are muck free, or alternatively, the fields that have more muck than grass

 

[Abbeygale]

harrowing will help to break up clumps, and drag out dead grass. Rolling will crush the grass which encourages it to grow - obviously both of these will flatten out any divots. I have always understood that harrowing and rolling together encourages grass growth. Harrowing alone will break up clumps and drag the rubbish out of the way to allow new growth to come through.

If that makes any sense!

 

[missshell]

Will harrowing sort mole hills?

 

[Abbeygale]

[ QUOTE ]
Will harrowing sort mole hills?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think they might flatten them - but it won't stop the moles!!

 

[Smartpony]

When harrowing and rolling the fields, which do you do first? Harrow then roll or roll then harrow?

 

[eoe]

Well next month I have to harrow all our fields, then aerate and fertilise them at the same time, all 30 acres of them. We normally harrow twice yearly and fertilise every other year.

 

[Abbeygale]

we harrow - then usually harrow again, and then roll. If we are fertilising as well would harrow then fertilise then roll - but this does depend on the weather a bit. If there is rain imminent the night after fertilising then we don't necessarily roll after - the rain will wash the fertiliser in.

There are factors like what state the ground is in before hand and what the weather is doing - that may change this though.

 

[Weezy]

Ours were harrowed today, they have been pretty much rested all winter (per usual, we don't turn out when wet), they are still a little wet, but not much, and they are all poo picked daily, it is law

It is a good thing to do, absolutely f all to do with whether fields are poo picked or not, it aids good grass growth!

 

[Flame_]

I should obviously have paid more attention in the "field management" lectures when I was in college.

Thanks Everybody!

 

[alison_oliver]

we're going to get the farmer next door to harrow and roll our summer field this week, fingers crossed some nice grass for summer!!

 

[Donkeymad]

It is definately worth harrowing, but bare in mind that harrowing a field not poo picked will NOT kill off worms.

 

[Tia]

It will if it is a boiling hot sunny day!

 

[gekko]

It certainly does down here! At over 50*C in summer, worm larve in a harrowed field last a matter of minutes! Soil surface temps go well past 80*C at times so it sterilises the little blighters!

Hell on a hot day here, you can actually crack an egg on the bitumen road and watch it cook!

 

[amandaco2]

now im jealous.i am still in my huge polo neck jumpers!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Our fields are dry enough to harrow but we have quite a few mole traps down at the moment so are waiting till they have hopefully done their job and then can flatten the mole hills and so how many reappear

 

[kellyeaton]

harrowing is good for poo picked field coz it will bring out all the dead grass. if she is going to harrow the un poo picked i would leave until coz if there are any worms in that poo now you are just spreading them all over your field when it is hot it kills them off but will help the grass all the same!