The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: Taliesin on May 08, 2018, 08:13:23 am
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I'm purchasing two tonne of ground limestone from a local quarry to spread on our two acres. Can anyone recommend what implement I can use to load and spread the stuff? Was thinking I could tow something along in my old 4x4 if needs be.
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We've thought long and hard about this one, having been let down by a succession of different contractors who always say they'll get back to us but then disappear! The problem is that most spreaders either need a PTO, or are far too small for this kind of thing.
In the end, we've decided to use granulated lime (calcifert) instead. This comes in 600kg big bags, which I can collect locally using our 4x4 and trailer.
Then, the plan will be for Mrs Womble to drive us slowly round the fields, whilst my friend and I stand on the trailer, scooping the lime out and scattering it by hand as we go. Yes, I'd have loved to buy or make a spreader, but I have a hunch that this will work just fine, and will probably take less time overall than having to get the welder out.
I just need to get our Landy back on (or off!) the road, and we'll be ready to give it a try. I'll report back in due course, but if anybody has any tips in the meantime, I'd be glad to hear them!
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I had the same situation and invested in a spreader that could do anything from grass seed to rock salt and that seemed to work. Hopefully later this year I will be using it for seed
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A quick search revealed this:
https://www.housemakers.co.uk/agri-fab-85lb-tow-spreader.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTRi14J1_kMgx9ISvgzBZlaieFA6pIsGxO_zZIrz3zbeBQhOdScYaRRoCSAIQAvD_BwE#product_tabs_description (https://www.housemakers.co.uk/agri-fab-85lb-tow-spreader.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTRi14J1_kMgx9ISvgzBZlaieFA6pIsGxO_zZIrz3zbeBQhOdScYaRRoCSAIQAvD_BwE#product_tabs_description)
which is a small towable spreader and not expensive. I know nothing more about it, but perhaps something like this might suit?
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A quick search revealed this:
https://www.housemakers.co.uk/agri-fab-85lb-tow-spreader.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTRi14J1_kMgx9ISvgzBZlaieFA6pIsGxO_zZIrz3zbeBQhOdScYaRRoCSAIQAvD_BwE#product_tabs_description (https://www.housemakers.co.uk/agri-fab-85lb-tow-spreader.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTRi14J1_kMgx9ISvgzBZlaieFA6pIsGxO_zZIrz3zbeBQhOdScYaRRoCSAIQAvD_BwE#product_tabs_description)
which is a small towable spreader and not expensive. I know nothing more about it, but perhaps something like this might suit?
I've taken the sizing commands out of your post, Fleecewife, as it was 0.00045pt on my screen! :D
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Thanks Sally. I've changed mine too. I usually check that when I've posted as it happens a lot, I think when I copy a link. I think the spreader might be quite small too - I've been trying to calculate how many times it would need to be refilled to spread 2 tons, but my brain ran away. Still, there are larger sizes out there, just more expensive.
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Yes, we'd seen those wee spreaders too, but figured they were too small for anything except a large lawn. That said, to spread two tonnes would take 52 refills#, so I guess if you did one a week.....
# Mind you, the blurb doesn't say whether the hopper holds 38.5 kg of lime, grass seed or feathers, so YMMV!
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You will need a drop spreader for ground limestone. A broadcast spreader will only work with prilled lime (calcifert etc).
Back in the day folks would spread it by hand off the back of a trailer - you'll need eye protection and a mask, (and skin protection) but it's doable. It's not like you will have to do it very often if you use ground limestone. If you use prills however, you'll need to do it every year.
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Another thing to bear in mind is that I don't think it spreads very easily if it gets wet....
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I'm purchasing two tonne of ground limestone from a local quarry to spread on our two acres. Can anyone recommend what implement I can use to load and spread the stuff? Was thinking I could tow something along in my old 4x4 if needs be.
I honestly wouldn't bother buying 2 tonnes and spreading it yourself.
Either ask a local lime contractor to supply and spread it, or, as Womble suggested, get some calcifert which can be spread with a conventional spreader. You can get land driven ones that your 4 x 4 will tow. In fact I have a proper commercial one for sale that holds about half a tonne (much more than the 85lbs referred to in the link above!)
(Don't know how much my son wants for ours, but I can ask him, or even if it's any good for you - I live near Goole in Yorks.)
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I use a Logic Broadcaster to spread granulated lime, works well. You would be surprised how quick you will load and spread the lime. 2t wouldn’t take that long.
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I use a Logic Broadcaster to spread granulated lime, works well. You would be surprised how quick you will load and spread the lime. 2t wouldn’t take that long.
The OP has bought ground lime not granulated.
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2 tons isn't that much. A spade and a trailer would do it
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Have you had you fields tested to know how much to put on.
Up here on Skye our analysis was very different across the various fields on our croft. With 1 field at ph5.1 needing 10.8t/ha and another at ph5.5 needing 6.8t/ha of ground limestone spread 50/50 over 2 years before retesting to asses results. Amount of Limestone also effected byu soil type and cropping plans
It is quite a big job spreading it and i would definitely do it with ground rather than pelleted as once its done its done.
I have a wee tractor towing an old trailer which can handle about 700kgs - luckily I have a mini digger to load the trailer with which saves handling the lime with a shovel twice. OH drives very slowly and i spread with a shovel and a fast swing to get a good spread - can do about 0.7 tons in 20 minutes followed by 20 minutes coughing and spluttering because of the effort of keeping up with the tractor and 20 mins to re load. Have spread about 12 tons like this taking maybe 2 days all in... so definitely doable with a 4x4 and trailer..
Have fun
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I had the same situation and invested in a spreader that could do anything from grass seed to rock salt and that seemed to work. Hopefully later this year I will be using it for seed
What type of spread please. Make and model? Sound like a useful multifunction item.
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A quick search revealed this:
https://www.housemakers.co.uk/agri-fab-85lb-tow-spreader.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTRi14J1_kMgx9ISvgzBZlaieFA6pIsGxO_zZIrz3zbeBQhOdScYaRRoCSAIQAvD_BwE#product_tabs_description (https://www.housemakers.co.uk/agri-fab-85lb-tow-spreader.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcXXBRBhEiwApfHGTRi14J1_kMgx9ISvgzBZlaieFA6pIsGxO_zZIrz3zbeBQhOdScYaRRoCSAIQAvD_BwE#product_tabs_description)
which is a small towable spreader and not expensive. I know nothing more about it, but perhaps something like this might suit?
Thanks, looks interesting though too small for us.
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Have you had you fields tested to know how much to put on.
Up here on Skye our analysis was very different across the various fields on our croft. With 1 field at ph5.1 needing 10.8t/ha and another at ph5.5 needing 6.8t/ha of ground limestone spread 50/50 over 2 years before retesting to asses results. Amount of Limestone also effected byu soil type and cropping plans
It is quite a big job spreading it and i would definitely do it with ground rather than pelleted as once its done its done.
I have a wee tractor towing an old trailer which can handle about 700kgs - luckily I have a mini digger to load the trailer with which saves handling the lime with a shovel twice. OH drives very slowly and i spread with a shovel and a fast swing to get a good spread - can do about 0.7 tons in 20 minutes followed by 20 minutes coughing and spluttering because of the effort of keeping up with the tractor and 20 mins to re load. Have spread about 12 tons like this taking maybe 2 days all in... so definitely doable with a 4x4 and trailer..
Have fun
Cheers, for the solid advice. This fits with my thoughts and it's great to hear from someone who has gone through the process and it works suffice to recommend to others. We shall use our old 4 x4 and a 10 x 6' for williams trailer with the tailgate down. That should do the trick. Was thinking best to cut grass before spreading the ground limestone. Anything else you learned which may others using this method?
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Start at the up wind edge of the field.
Work out the size of the field and how much lime you need and how many passes it will be - go very easy on the first pass as you may well find you are spreading a fair bit more then you anticipated. I found it very useful to calculate the weight by volume as it gives an easy way to visualise it. Lime weighs a lot, for example in out polytunnel which is about 240 m2 we only needed 9 12.5 ltr buckets full each year appying at the rate of 6.8t/ha.
Don't over do it you can always add more based on the analysis after 2 years but you can't take it off again ever! Keep records.
It's a very satisfying job I am about 50% through doing our croft with some fields having had 2 doses and ready for retesting this winter and others still needing second dose over winter.
What are your plans for the land?
H
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Start at the up wind edge of the field.
Work out the size of the field and how much lime you need and how many passes it will be - go very easy on the first pass as you may well find you are spreading a fair bit more then you anticipated. I found it very useful to calculate the weight by volume as it gives an easy way to visualise it. Lime weighs a lot, for example in out polytunnel which is about 240 m2 we only needed 9 12.5 ltr buckets full each year appying at the rate of 6.8t/ha.
Don't over do it you can always add more based on the analysis after 2 years but you can't take it off again ever! Keep records.
It's a very satisfying job I am about 50% through doing our croft with some fields having had 2 doses and ready for retesting this winter and others still needing second dose over winter.
What are your plans for the land?
H
Thanks, I'm planting orchard this Autumn, ultimately to produce apple juice and a drop of cider. I was thinking of a one off ploughing of the pasture followed immediately with seeding red clover and some hardy grasses and then liming. Time is right now given the good weather. We have about a foot or so of loamy soil over a heavy clay so compaction is an issue leading to wet ground. In future we shall just mow using a lightweight quad/topper or similar. Have you put the plough to pasture mixed with soft rush?
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Remember to tell who ever does your analysis that you are planting Orchard. Think apple trees would need a lower ph than pasture..but then on the other hand the rushes will also like the lower ph
I haven't ploughed yet and probably won't on my rushy fields. They drop a lot of seed. A crofter local to me, who is just getting back into his croft in retirement, sprayed then ploughed and reseeded a few years ago. In the first year he had a bumper crop of silage but now the rushes are going ape with all the ground disturbance and coming back thick and fast.
In our rushy fields, which I am.trying to bring back to better pasture, I plan to cut them back and then use a weed wiper (once or at most twice - primarily organic here) on the regrowth before grazing, overseeding and then immedietly grazing again (sheep) that and drainage.
If anybody is reading and wants for share them, I would be interested to hear any comments/experiences re this plan to get a relatively dry, but very rushy field back into good shape...