Is it worth bailing

[Coblette]

Got a couple of acres that I can cut for hay, however it’s got quite a lot of thistle growing. It is nice meadow hay and has various other weeds/different grasses. Is it worth bailing? I will cost less than £2 a bale to have done but wondering if it’s worth it if it’s got quite a lot of weeds?! There’s no ragwort, that’s all been pulled (minimal at the edges). Would you bother?

 

[Clodagh]

Yes, mixed meadow grass is much better for horses.
They like thistles but I’d ask the hay maker to avoid any big patches if possible.

 

[cauda equina]

Yes, if -
You're absolutely sure there's no ragwort left
You don't mind dealing with thistley hay (assuming you'd be keeping it for yourself)
You have somewhere suitable to stack it
Your haymaking person is flexible enough to fit you in when the weather is right

Otherwise I'd leave it for foggage and graze it

 

[AFB]

If it's for personal use without a doubt.

If it's for selling on then you need assess whether the volume of thistles will put people off buying.

 

[Coblette]

Yeah it’s just for personal use & a friend may have a few bales. Ok good to know it’s still worth doing. It is nice grass just annoying so many weeds! I’ll have to make sure I wear gloves to handle it. I would graze but it’s not properly fenced.

 

[ester]

For our own we just go round once it's almost dry and pull the worst weeds out before baling

 

[Melody Grey]

Yes- just invest in a decent pair of leather gardening gloves to handle it!