Making my Own Hay

[NWalker]

Thinking about making my own hay this summer. Haven't a clue about what I should be doing. I have a three acre field which hasn't been grazed since the Summer and a 6 acre field which is my winter field for four horses. I will probably be moving them at the end of March. If I wanted to make hay from both these fields, should I be putting down any fertiliser, weed killer. We don't have any ragwort but quite a few docks and dandelions. Do I need to move the horses earlier if I wanted to make hay from their winter field. I was hoping to maybe cut the 3 acre field in June and leave the 6 acre field until September. Would this be feasible? How many bales of hay would I get from 9 acres and would it be enough to feed four horses over winter. Thank you.

 

[loz9]

have replied to you in stable yard

 

[Echo Bravo]

Hay is ready when hay is ready. I'd say winter paddock to late and September isn't a time to cut and bale hay unless you want trash. We have an 5 acre field that has nothing on it through the winter, fertisled in the spring and sprayed if it needs it, horses turned out on it after haycrop taken off. And I bring them in at the end of October.