How long to lay pasture?

[kit279]

Just wondering how long it would take to establish pasture from previously arable land? My local farm has recently done it and they have made hay from it but it looks quite far away from being able to carry horses so would be interested to know.

 

[*hic*]

I bought a field with a wheat crop coming through on it in around June, following advice I grazed my three ponies on a smallish part of it and waited for the farmer to take the crop off. Due to this and that the seed was not drilled until the first week of December - WAY too late! So we decided to risk only half the field. However in temps above 6 degree grass will try to grow and it did come up and we were grazing firstly sheep to give it it's first cut and save us topping it and then the ponies by May. We let them pick over the whole lot so as not to crop it too close and it has been fine ever since. There is little if any difference between the half of the field that was sown in December and the half that was sown the following May.

If I did it again I would have it broadcast, not drilled as it looks untidy for ages with the grass in straight lines! And I wouldn't leave it as late as December although for us it worked.

It should be noted that we are on grade 1 arable land though! And also that we were running 3 ponies on 3 acres of newly seeded grass plus they had a "scratch" area that has never been seeded, is just growing what came up after they ate the wheat off, which is around 2 acres. The last 4 acres was seeded in May/.

hth

 

[DuckToller]

I was told 18 months, but that was by someone quite precious about his fields! I guess it depends on the soil and whether you are in an area with a mild climate etc.

 

[Echo Bravo]

All depends if you want to keep reseeding. 12 to 18 months is about right gives time for the roots to establish to give you permenant pasture.

 

[Donkeymad]

Agree, about twelve months minimum.

 

[PeterNatt]

I have done this several times and I always allow at least two to three full years before putting horses on it. It also needs to be done properly to ensure that the field is well drained and that no weeds come through.

 

[*hic*]

I guess we were just lucky then - or maybe it was the fantastic fen soil. However my friend's new field was seeded at the beginning of this autumn and the plan was to get animals on in late spring next year as well as a significant hay/haylage crop. She's on clay soil.

 

[miller]

We got lucky with fen soil too - seeded November and then again with half amount in March - horses on it August.

Occasionally have to reseed poached areas after winter near the gate but that's all - too much grass this year and they are still on summer side