Has anyone rolled their field while it's frozen?

[now_loves_mares]

My field was so badly poached after the terrible rain this year, we couldn't roll it as it was so wet the tractor would have destroyed it. Anyway it is rock hard now - with frost - and i asked the farmer if we could roll it, but he said best to wait till spring.

I get that, but at the moment it is downright dangerous as it is frozen potholes and lumps, I am terrified they will injure themselves so am keeping them in a small hard-standing area.. I'd rather they were in the field though, especially while it's hard and they can't damage it.

I rent the field (not from the farmer) so it's my decision, but not sure if this will work, or in fact do more damage?

 

[Booboos]

I've never tried this but I would imagine you might get frozen clumps of earth coming off and rolling about without any of it compacting and levelling at all (which is presumably what you want). Unfortunately there is no other solution but to wait in my experience.

 

[Bosworth]

No Don't do it - I spoke to my local friendly farmer as he was muck spreading my fields and he said don't roll it now as it will really damage the fields now. Leave it till the frost is over in aprilish

 

[Crystalbank_stud]

No, you should be rolling yet. I understand about the frozen lumps and bumps, but you need to wait till Spring then put the harrows over it, follwed by the roller.

 

[Sprout]

Rolling and harrowing needs to be done in the spring - if you do it now you will damage the ground and it wont make the poached area any better either.

 

[SNORKEY]

I drove my 4x4 around my field by the gate area the other day to get rid of all the lumps and bumps, worked a treat and it looks all lovely and flat now!

 

[now_loves_mares]

Oh dear - then I won't be able to turn them out for months

Might just ask him to do the gate area, just outside the hardcore, as there isn't much grass anyway and that's the bit that is most dangerous for them (that they insist on galloping over when I go to take them in). I have 10 acres between the two of them, so if I leave about 9.75 acres untouched, that should be ok!

Might try the 4wd - might work! But I doubt it, it's REALLY frozen hard!