What month do you usually harrow and roll?

[HopOnTrot]

Looking at fields in dispair this morning, what month do you normally harrow and roll? I have March in my head which means approximatly 6 weeks left of total mud shite left before I start worrying about laminitis...

Please tell me we only have six weeks left to go... PRETTY PLEASE

 

[Fransurrey]

I don't do it myself (on livery), but you have to just read the weather and ground within the window of opportunity (spring). Basically when the ground is hard enough to withstand the machinery but soft enough to iron out the lumps and bumps. Anytime between early April and mid May round here, but we're high up (therefore grass kicks in later), so for others it might be earlier.

 

[TheMule]

I usually harrow my winter fields in the middle of February to spread the poo but then a proper harrow once I'm happy winter is over. Rolling is best only done in very bad areas as it compacts the soil- I roll my gateways as soon as it dries enough to not get stuck. I actually rolled one gateway on Saturday.

 

[AutumnDays]

I'm looking at mine wishing I could get rid of all the grass and put a surface down to avoid the mud and sugary grass, but I think I have more chance of sprouting wings than that happening! We have clay, so it's a small window to be able to be effective, it's big one minute then boom! rock solid

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I rarely ever get mine rolled, but harrowing is done sometime between Feb and May, depending on the ground conditions.

 

[Fanatical]

Usually March/ April. On clay so have a very small window of opportunity!
Last year February was incredibly dry so actually was able to get on the fields at the end of the month but had to re-do again in April.

 

[rabatsa]

As others have said, when the ground conditions are right to do it.

 

[tda]

If the ground was in that very small window between Too Wet and Too Dry , I'd do it then! When is that window, who knows
I harrow, but only roll with the roller empty nowadays (can fill with water for more weight)

 

[YourValentine]

Harrow in spring as the ground is starting to dry when you can drive on and barely leave tyre prints in the soil. Depending on the year and your soil that could be a quite narrow window in march/april/may.

Avoid rolling if possible as it just causes soil compaction that will make drought and flood issues worse as the soil is unable to absorb and hold moisture, leads to weed issues etc.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

It ll totally depend on the weather and field dryness….

 

[Sossigpoker]

How deep should the tines of the harrow go? Should it leave visible tracks in the ground? And is it best to do it just after rain or just before rain - or does it matter?
First year of doing it myself with my 4x4 !

Edit - my ground is mostly clay but drains quite well so is already drying up nicely.

 

[Birker2020]

Usually between March and April I think ours were done, my partner does them all at the livery yard.

I think he rolls and then harrows as it is dangerous to harrow and then roll, or at least that is what it is like with surfaces.

 

[southerncomfort]

If the ground was in that very small window between Too Wet and Too Dry , I'd do it then! When is that window, who knows
I harrow, but only roll with the roller empty nowadays (can fill with water for more weight)

Same as tda. Whenever the ground is just right!

 

[setterlover]

As people have said it really depends on the weather and the land .We try to muck spread in March and then harrow a few days later to break it down and thoroughly spread it .We will roll tracks and gateways and areas that need it as soon as they are able to support the quad and rolled we don't usually roll the whole of the fields as compacting the soil can affect drainage.

 

[94lunagem]

Very much ground dependent, my farmer friend usually turns up some time to suit him (usually without notice and I have to scramble to fetch in!) April/May time. It has occasionally been later if he's been busy and the ground allows.

 

[Polos Mum]

I harrow (to spread poos) as soon as it's dry enough to get the tractor on after they have moved to spring fields. Some years that's March, some years it's never !!
I try and do it when rain is forecast but I rest my winter fields for 6 months so not too fussy about immediate rain !

I don't roll (used to cambridge roll when we were on very heavy clay as least worst option) Rolling will make it look pretty in the short term but compact the ground so prevent proper recovery in the longer term.

If you can sheep do a fab job of walking out the ruts and padding them down with their feet - so you get the same smooth finish without the detriment of heavy machinery.
I'll borrow the sheep as soon as there is a sprinkle of green for them to eat

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

An old farmer friend once told me it's best to harrow, roll them harrow again. I guess the second lot of harrowing will loosen the surface again that has been compacted by the roller?

I have historically had field rolled every year, between end of Feb and early April, no option to harrow and far far to heavy clay to leave unrolled, but now have own equipment and have moved house so planning harrowing, rolling bad areas then harrowing them again. I also want to hire a slitter thingy to make holes in the ground for better drainage and to break it up more.

I'll be leaving about 1.2 acres for the horses to graze having nothing done to it at all while the rest recovers, then will have to do what I can later in the year with that area which might end up being just harrowing.

 

[Ratface]

Well, thank Heaven that I don't have this complex conundrum to compute! It sounds altogether too much like Goldilocks And The Three Bears: the mattresses being "too hard," "too soft," and, finally - "just right!"
Old Horse's YO has had the management of her 50 acres for an equal number of years. She is surrounded by old-fashioned farmers who will advise the most appropriate action in the most manner, and do the work for her if she's too busy.

 

[blitznbobs]

When it’s dry enough but not too dry… it’s usually the end of march or beginning of April though

i avoid rolling and often use sheep for this task as we are pretty much all sand where we are

 

[meesha]

Did mine last Feb as v dry and needed it ...but then had wet couple months so was pointless as needed doing again!! Would have been ok if hadn't put horses back on !!

 

[SEL]

I think I had about 3 hours between too wet and too dry last year. Don't roll because I'm on clay but harrow anytime between March and May and had the aerator last year too. In fact the grass growth was so bonkers last year that by the time he could get on my top field (high ground water) it was calf high and he didn't harrow.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Looking at fields in dispair this morning, what month do you normally harrow and roll? I have March in my head which means approximatly 6 weeks left of total mud shite left before I start worrying about laminitis...

Please tell me we only have six weeks left to go... PRETTY PLEASE

March

 

[HopOnTrot]

In a fit of rage at the mud, both ponies now have hock length tails.

 

[Goldenstar]

I am hoping it will be the being of March but it might be the end of April .

 

[tda]

In a fit of rage at the mud, both ponies now have hock length tails.

Did all ours about a month ago, some are a litle short....but will grow

 

[rextherobber]

How deep should the tines of the harrow go? Should it leave visible tracks in the ground? And is it best to do it just after rain or just before rain - or does it matter?
First year of doing it myself with my 4x4 !

Edit - my ground is mostly clay but drains quite well so is already drying up nicely.

My harrow can go either tines facing forward ( hard harrow) , facing backwards ( less hard harrow) or flipped over as a chain ( gentle) harrow. Depends what you want to achieve, hard harrow to pull out thatch, aerate grass roots ( after risk of frost) , less hard as a mid season harrow if not too dry ( good before rain ) and chain harrow to spread poo. The depth the tines go depends on ground conditions and soil type, if it's not deep enough, you can weigh it down with tyres etc. Field management is hugely enjoyable ( and time consuming) ,it's quite addictive - have fun!

 

[94lunagem]

Did all ours about a month ago, some are a litle short....but will grow

I do this and get a bit carried away. As you say, they grow!

 

[millitiger]

I rolled ours about 3 weeks ago and will run over it again this weekend- only the worst parts of the winter field though.
never roll any of the other fields, only harrowed and everything gets aerovated, in either autumn or spring

 

[SEL]

In a fit of rage at the mud, both ponies now have hock length tails.

One of mine has a very wonky tail after I hacked off mud dreadlocks!

 

[HopOnTrot]

Pleased to report that 24 hours later both tails look spotless, I imagine darling daughter will be the toast of PC tomorrow with her fancy clean tailed pony