Author Topic: which grass seed (Read 2389 times)

earlybird · « **on:** September 23, 2012, 03:32:20 pm »

hi, i have 4 acres that i want to put down to grass and run our sheep on, my plan ideally would be to have half of it for use as hay and the rest as grazing and keep alternating. our soil is fairly heavy as we live next to the marsh

supplies for smallholders · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2012, 10:07:52 pm »

The answer to that question is not quite that simple,

We sell several types of seed - short term 1 year medium term 2 - 3 year or long term 5 Years+, with or without clover? for hay or sileage? A traditional mix as per 1900's or a more modern blend? etc etc.

A Permanent Pasture mix will cost you around £72 per acre or less for 5+ Acres and is generally sown at 14Kg per acre.

Small Farmer · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2012, 11:35:46 pm »

This is a complicated subject. Take a look at http://www.eblex.org.uk/returns/Better-returns-sheep.aspx and you'll find it's all about compromise.

First thing though is to do soil tests

Dan · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2012, 07:47:44 am »

We've got some basic articles to grassland management on the site which might make useful background reading:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/smallholding/grassland-management/

FiB · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2012, 08:57:42 am »

And Cotswold seeds are also very helpful - the more you go into it...it is bamboozling! We went for quite an old mix permanent pasture, with added herbage, as we dont intend to be ploughing and reseeding every 3 or 4 years (or even ever if possible!) and wanted a mix that was quite stable and diverse without complex additions. LIke you ours is grazing and hay.