Pasture on gravel soil?

[Marigold4]

We had a lovely property lined up eith 3.7 acres of lovely loamy soil, but it's looking more and more likely that the purchase will fall through for a number of complicated reasons. Our buyer is still very keen on ours though and we've been to look at another property with 6 acres of pasture but it's on gravelly soil. The pasture looked pretty mossy and as though it would not produce much grass. Anyone got any experience of pasture on gravel based soil please?

Other issue is that it is next to a dog boarding kennel!!!

 

[Time for Tea]

I have had fields for years on good old New Forest gravel. It is poor and acidic. We do have a lot of moss in our lawn, such as it is, but the fields get harrowed and spiked which helps. It drains well, so although it’s obviously a bit muddy at the moment, the ponies aren’t deep in mud. The main issue is grass growth. It starts off well in the spring, then if it is one of those hot summers like 2022, it just all burns off and dries up and you end up haying in the summer. That didn’t happen this year, with so much rain we have had tons of grass. Too much really. The other issue is weeds. If the grass burns off it takes about 3-4 weeks to recover, the weeds seem to take about 24 hours! I get on well with it. I never fertilise it. I have limed it in the past. because it’s poor, it suits my native ponies. I have had horses on it, and they have been fine, just needed a little more feed. If you have more land with this property, that will help if it’s poor?

 

[PurBee]

It sounds strange that there would be moss on gravel mix soil as that should be well-draining, and moss thrives generally on water-logged soils - as some of my fields during winter are more moss than grass! Waterlogged, shaded by trees soils will more easily grow moss. Especially acidic peaty soils.
It could be that the very top soil few inches is a type that holds water but the lower layers are more free draining with the high gravel content.
Using field lime after PH testing could shift the moss.

It may be land thats been overstocked so its just been left as mostly mud, which will attract weed and moss growth rather than grass, if the topsoil-type isnt acidic/boggy. I have both these issues as deer herds graze my land stripping everything, and im constantly re-sowing grass to overcome their overgrazing. It’s tedious - wouldnt recommend it!
P.s if there’s deer on the land - consider very carefully about taking that on - deer fencing is a humongous job and very expensive, and deer eat your grazing you bought to feed horses. Its the reason, primarily, why im relocating.

I have lots of moss seeds that easily blow onto my fields from the boundary shaded tree copse areas, where there’s plenty of moss growing. There’s methods to combat moss: alter PH of soil, allow more light to pasture by thinning trees/bushes which increases light and airflow to help soil dry-out, making moss-growing conditions less favourable.

The kennel might be off-putting enough tho to not worry about moss!

Sorry to hear your loam land purchase hasnt worked-out. Winter is a good time to see land at its worst, you will get a good idea what you’ll face. Fingers crossed the perfect land for your plans turns-up

 

[Marigold4]

It sounds strange that there would be moss on gravel mix soil as that should be well-draining, and moss thrives generally on water-logged soils - as some of my fields during winter are more moss than grass! Waterlogged, shaded by trees soils will more easily grow moss. Especially acidic peaty soils.
It could be that the very top soil few inches is a type that holds water but the lower layers are more free draining with the high gravel content.
Using field lime after PH testing could shift the moss.

It may be land thats been overstocked so its just been left as mostly mud, which will attract weed and moss growth rather than grass, if the topsoil-type isnt acidic/boggy. I have both these issues as deer herds graze my land stripping everything, and im constantly re-sowing grass to overcome their overgrazing. It’s tedious - wouldnt recommend it!
P.s if there’s deer on the land - consider very carefully about taking that on - deer fencing is a humongous job and very expensive, and deer eat your grazing you bought to feed horses. Its the reason, primarily, why im relocating.

I have lots of moss seeds that easily blow onto my fields from the boundary shaded tree copse areas, where there’s plenty of moss growing. There’s methods to combat moss: alter PH of soil, allow more light to pasture by thinning trees/bushes which increases light and airflow to help soil dry-out, making moss-growing conditions less favourable.

The kennel might be off-putting enough tho to not worry about moss!

Sorry to hear your loam land purchase hasnt worked-out. Winter is a good time to see land at its worst, you will get a good idea what you’ll face. Fingers crossed the perfect land for your plans turns-up

Yes, I think the boarding kennel next door may well be a compromise too far! Thanks for the tips on the mossy grass though. I don't think there are deer there but will check with the owner. There are plenty of trees around (nothing poisonous) so that may be the answer.

 

[Marigold4]

I have had fields for years on good old New Forest gravel. It is poor and acidic. We do have a lot of moss in our lawn, such as it is, but the fields get harrowed and spiked which helps. It drains well, so although it’s obviously a bit muddy at the moment, the ponies aren’t deep in mud. The main issue is grass growth. It starts off well in the spring, then if it is one of those hot summers like 2022, it just all burns off and dries up and you end up haying in the summer. That didn’t happen this year, with so much rain we have had tons of grass. Too much really. The other issue is weeds. If the grass burns off it takes about 3-4 weeks to recover, the weeds seem to take about 24 hours! I get on well with it. I never fertilise it. I have limed it in the past. because it’s poor, it suits my native ponies. I have had horses on it, and they have been fine, just needed a little more feed. If you have more land with this property, that will help if it’s poor?

Thanks for replying. The land doesn't look poached but I think it may be like yours and doesn't produce much grass. There are photos of it in the summer showing the fields looking very brown so that might be a problem, as you say. Mind you, I'm on a rented rye grass field at the moment that produces too much grass so maybe you just can't win!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thanks for replying. The land doesn't look poached but I think it may be like yours and doesn't produce much grass. There are photos of it in the summer showing the fields looking very brown so that might be a problem, as you say. Mind you, I'm on a rented rye grass field at the moment that produces too much grass so maybe you just can't win!

We don't have gravel but we did have moss prior to getting sheep. They have got rid of the moss for us!

 

[Time for Tea]

I do think every type of land has its problems. Too rich, too much grass, too poor etc. I think I prefer gravel to clay, I have never had the luxury of loam.
My sister used to have a big dog and cat boarding kennels. We would go and stay with her. It was quite noisy but we seemed to get used to it quickly when staying.

 

[2 Dragons]

My yard and most hacking routes are on gravelly soil. The grass we grow is not very lush, less grows in the highest fields more on the lower ground, these are sloping rather than hilly. I find the grass fine for my natives.
No moss!
The ground is well draining and we are able to ride in the fields on most days. Although, t does get a slippery surface for a few hours after heavy rain.
Ponies feet and legs are much healthier than we were at a yard with clay soil

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks for all replies about the gravelly soil. Seems like it might work from a horse point of view but I sat outside the property in my car with the windows open today and the racket from the dogs is non-stop. I looked online and they have a licence for 120 dogs!!!!!!!!!!!! So that's a firm no then.

 

[sbloom]

A lack of grass would be perfect for good doers, it sounds like a track system could be well worth a look, and allow the centre of the fields to revert to proper hay meadow, cutting your own hay from undisturbed land. Just a thought (it's how I'd like to keep mine if I ever have horses again, good doers or no). Shame about the dogs!

 

[Time for Tea]

Thanks for all replies about the gravelly soil. Seems like it might work from a horse point of view but I sat outside the property in my car with the windows open today and the racket from the dogs is non-stop. I looked online and they have a licence for 120 dogs!!!!!!!!!!!! So that's a firm no then.

That’s a shame. thinking about it my sisters was pretty isolated and also by the A43 dual carriageway so that offset the noise a bit!

 

[cauda equina]

Thanks for all replies about the gravelly soil. Seems like it might work from a horse point of view but I sat outside the property in my car with the windows open today and the racket from the dogs is non-stop. I looked online and they have a licence for 120 dogs!!!!!!!!!!!! So that's a firm no then.

Move in then complain to the council about the kennels
It seems to work for new owners who don't like church bells/cockerels

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Sounds like a perfect idea if your horses are good doers and you can supplement with hay - at least the fields will drain well and won’t get too deep and muddy.

 

[Lois Lame]

I'm glad you've decided against it. The moss means it isn't well-draining. I think that would be an issue.