Horse friendly fertiliser?

T_K

T_K

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I'm looking to fertilise a portion of my field as the grass just isn't growing well at all.

I need to use a 'horse friendly' fertiliser as the ponies will be in the field next to it. Plus, depending on the weather, they may need to go back onto that portion after a week or so.

Does this kind of fertiliser exist? If so, what's it called? :D
 
here we use sheep poo, but that might not help if you dont know anyone with sheep. Whats needed depends on whats missing from your soil. has there ever been an analysis? worth it as some things can be solved with harmless stuff, other things need more chemical-y solutions.
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
here we use sheep poo, but that might not help if you dont know anyone with sheep. Whats needed depends on whats missing from your soil. has there ever been an analysis? worth it as some things can be solved with harmless stuff, other things need more chemical-y solutions.
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Never had an analysis, the soil is pretty poor TBH and even if the field had been empty this winter it would've suffered. It was very very wet, and then dried up very quickly so looks like the Arizona desert in places now!
 
If you want to keep grazing it then maybe something like calcified seaweed. Or if you can move them off you could use something like SureGrow which is a slow release fertiliser.

But to be honest I would get a soil check done and then at least you know whats needed to improve it.

By the way, I've never known my grass to be so slow to get going as this year. The only grass that seems to be growing like crazy is my lawn!
 
0ldmare said:
By the way, I've never known my grass to be so slow to get going as this year. The only grass that seems to be growing like crazy is my lawn!
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It's very annoying as I see all the verges growing, and the nettles are going crazy! Which is good as I'm cutting and drying them!

My poor ponies are still on winter feeds with horsehage as there's not a lot for them to eat - strangely the poos are slightly green and a wee bit sloppy again.

How do I go about getting the soil tested? I'm guessing I just send a sample to someone...?
 
Be very careful when using fertiliser as the stuff farmers use makes the grass too rich too quickly. I got mine tested and used New Life 2 which is for equestrian use, it makes the grass stronger and thicker but doesn't make it bolt or too rich.
 
Sorry meant to add: A soil fertility company, try asking a local farmer who they use, or an agricultural merchant might know, or yellow pages. I doesn't cost very much for a test.
 
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