Spraying and reseeding a 4 acre field

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becca114

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My donkey shares a field with two other horses. The field is 4 acres and has more weeds than there is grass, mainly buttercup leaves and docks. Does anyone know how to go about spraying the field and then reseeding it? How much does it cost? Does it have to be done in the spring?
 
I would wait till next year now, then get the field re-seeded 1st, it will be cheeper to do this your self, as only 4 acres (we did), we brought the seed in bags and went up and down the field with wheel barrows and just throw the seeds, (the earliest you can re-seed now will be march/April time when the frost has gone. then when the time is ready get your field sprayed by may be a farmer...kills all the docks and nettles..
 
I have re-seeded fields several times so can give you some experience based advice.
Firstly get a soil test done to determine any lack of minerals etc.
Decide what seed you require as there are some specialised firms that now supply a range of grasses for field to be used by horses for grazing, hay or ridden on. My supplier of grass seeds is Barenbrug (Tel: 01359 272000 www.barenbrug.co.uk)who do a range of 6 different seeds i.e. General Purpose Mix, Gallops Mix, Stud Mix, 2 Years Hay/Haylage Mix/ Perennial Hay/Haylage Mix/Herb Mix.
(Use a permanent grass seed)
You will need to use total kill on the grass first and allow it to completly die off.
Then plough up the field.
Wait for new growth and apply total kill again.
Put in any drainage or water pipes that may be required.
Cultivate the soil.
Add Mag lime or whatever is required to restore the field to a correct content level of minerals
Drill the seed and double the recomended rate (This is important)
Once the grass has established itself harrow and roll the fields every months for at least 3 month.
Do not put horses on it for at least a year if you want good permanent pasture.

Best time to do it is September or March.

You then need to maintain your feeds correctly to prevent them going back to weeks by picking up the poos each day and strimming the weeds or having them cut and collected regularly.

Leaving poos will generate weeds because they sour the soil killing off the grass underneath them which then allows weeds to take over.

Cost of seed will be about £80.00 per acre. Do not be tempted to use normal Rye grass seed used for seed hay as this will only last for about 3 years!

Use a specialist contractor to do the work for you as they have the machinery and you will get a far better result.

Alternatively you could use a strimmer to remove the docks, thistles and nettles every two weeks until they give up or alternatively get a contractor to use a cut and collect machine every two weeks in the growing season.
 
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